The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Pair of Paintings: The Colonnade of St. Peter's, Rome, during the Conclave and The Grotto of Posillipo

Pair of Paintings: The Colonnade of St. Peter's, Rome, during the Conclave and The Grotto of Posillipo

c.1769
(French, 1733–1808)
France, 18th century
oil on canvas
Framed: 56 x 47.5 x 6 cm (22 1/16 x 18 11/16 x 2 3/8 in.); Unframed: 42.6 x 33.4 cm (16 3/4 x 13 1/8 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1976.97
Location: 202 French Neoclassical Decorative Arts

Description

Hubert Robert studied and worked in Italy in 1754–65. Upon returning to Paris, he entered the Royal Academy as an architectural painter and full member in 1766. His time in Italy would prove to be influential and classical architectural subjects would dominate his subsequent work. Interior of the Colonnade of St. Peter's is based on a drawing dated from 1758, the same year that Pope Clement XIII Rezzonico was elected. Given his interest in classical subjects, Robert has antiquated his subject by aging the condition of the columns and including a soldier dressed in ancient Roman armor. Similarly, Robert imaginatively portrays the Grotto of Posillipo. Measuring over 2000 feet in length, this tunnel was carved from volcanic rock by ancient Romans to connect Naples with Pozzuoli. While this passageway was improved by repaving and reinforcing the arches during the reign of Charles III of Naples (1734–59), this structure was never the grand tunnel Robert depicts—with coffered vaults and engaged columns.
  • Denis-Pierre Papillon de la Ferte
    Marius Paulme (sold, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, November 22, 1923, lots 76 and 77, to Henri Boudonneau)
    1923 - 1949 Henri Boudonneau (Paris, France), by inheritance to his son, Rene Boudonneau, 1949
    1949 - 1961 Rene Boudonneau, by inheritance to his wife, Mme S. A. Boudonneau, 1961
    1961 - 1974 Mme S. A. Boudonneau (Geneva, Switzerland) (sold, Christie's, London, December 13, 1974, lot 146, to Gallerie Cailleux
    1974 - 1976 Gallery Cailleux (Paris, France) sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1976.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 187 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Catalogue of Paintings, Part 3: European Paintings of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1982. Mentioned: p. 127-131; Reproduced: p. 129-130
  • Year in Review, 1976. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 1-March 6, 1977).
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Paintings: The Colonnade of St. Peter's, Rome, during the Conclave and The Grotto of Posillipo|url=false|author=Hubert Robert|year=c.1769|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1976.97