Hubert Robert (1733-1808), of whose classic landscapes the collection
contains nineteen examples (Nos. 797-815), was not, as might be
imagined from the general character of his paintings, influenced by the
art of Claude Lorrain, but derived his love of antique buildings and
landscapes peopled with classic figures from the general atmosphere of
archæological enthusiasm engendered by the excavations on the site of
Herculaneum, which prevailed in Rome when the young artist arrived at
that Mecca of his profession in 1754. Robert lived and worked in Italy
for twelve years, and became thoroughly imbued with this antiquarian
spirit. Unlike Claude, he rarely, if ever, drew upon his imagination
for the details of his classic landscapes, which are faithful
transcripts of existing ruined or half-ruined buildings, though not
infrequently they are arranged for greater pictorial effect. Of this
half-realistic, half-classic nature—the introduction of people in
classic garb among the ruins of buildings, which in classic times wore
a very different aspect, is a pardonable anachronism—are the _Interior
of the Temple of Diana at Nimes_ (No. 799), and several similar pieces
at the Louvre. In his smaller pictures, of which the best are the
_Fountain under a Portico_ (No. 812) and the _Winding Staircase, with
three Figures_ (No. 813), in the La Caze Room, he rivals the rich
quality of pigment and mellow tone of Guardi at his best. Robert was
Fragonard’s constant companion in Rome, and exercised considerable
influence upon his friend, as may be seen from Fragonard’s landscape
drawings.
There is scarcely a trace of Italian classicism in the superb _View
in the Neighbourhood of Paris_ (No. 650), by Louis Gabriel Moreau
(1740-1806), which in its silvery-grey tonality, in its sense of
atmosphere, and in the treatment of the receding distances, rather
recalls the manner of the Dutchman Philips de Koninck. That Moreau, who
also worked in England, was not always free from conventionality, is
proved by the rather formal composition of the _View of the Hills of
Meudon from Saint-Cloud_ (No. 651).
[Illustration:
PLATE XLIV.—ELISABETH LOUISE VIGÉE LE BRUN
(1755-1842)