Hubert Robert

Jean, Marquis d’Amodio (1909-2003), Paris;
His Estate sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 7 April 2004, lot 41, where acquired.

The picture is identical in colour but richer in tone than the catalogue illustration would suggest, so there is more definition visible. The paper has been laid onto canvas and as a result the paint is thin in places, but these are background peripheral areas and it does not compromise the integrity of the image which is otherwise in good condition. Examination under ultraviolet reveals a thin slightly mottled varnish and some scattered minor areas of cosmetic retouching and strengthening to the leaves. Overall the picture is in good condition. Offered in a French style gilt wood and plaster frame surmounted by flowers in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Hubert Robert can be ranked with Jean-Honoré Fragonard as among the leading painters of the final years of the ancien régime. The soft Arcadian light of his work perfectly suited the rococo sensibilities of the time and he was hugely successful commercially, both with European and Russian clients. In his landscapes, both real and imaginary, he specialised in blending a description of atmospheric mood with a reverence for the past, filling his scenes with the classical ruins he had studied during his stay in Italy from late 1754 to 1765. After his return to Paris he continued to work in the same style, relying on his considerable notebooks of beautiful drawings, but also painted scenes of Paris and the surrounding area.
A likely date of execution for the present work is circa 1778, when the artist was at the height of his career and the year in which he was named custodian of the king’s pictures. The later additions which were still present at the time of the 2004 sale (see Provenance) have since been removed.
A similar landscape on paper was painted by Robert in circa 1775 and was sold as part of the collection of Camille Groult (1837-1908), Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, 21-22 June 1920.
The work will be included in the Wildenstein Institute’s forthcoming catalogue rasionné of the paintings of Hubert Robert.