Artwork
Title Page
Title Page is a print by the Romanticist artist Hubert Robert. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This painting shows a title page with fictional characters near buildings and statues in Rome.
The characters are situated in a detailed setting, which suggests that the artist was familiar with the city. The dedication to Marguerite Le Compte adds a personal touch to the work.
You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Hubert Robert (French, 1733–1808)
Overview
This print is the title page of a suite of etchings depicting fictional characters amidst recognizable Roman landmarks and statues. Derived from the artist's own pen-and-ink drawings, it showcases a blend of imagination and topographical accuracy.
Subject & Meaning
The title page includes a dedication to Marguerite Le Compte, a visitor to Rome in 1764, accompanied by art enthusiast Claude Henri Watelet. Both were amateur etchers and part of a social circle involving artists and printmakers associated with Italian academies.
History & Provenance
The dedication to Le Compte may have been motivated by the artist's hope for future patronage, as she was known to be an art enthusiast and amateur etcher. Le Compte's connection to the artist and the circle around Watelet likely influenced the work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hubert Robert (French pronunciation: ; 22 May 1733 – 15 April 1808) was a French painter in the school of Romanticism, noted especially for his landscape paintings and capricci, or semi-fictitious picturesque depictions of ruins in Italy…
