Artwork
Ruins of a Roman Bath with Washerwomen
Ruins of a Roman Bath with Washerwomen is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hubert Robert. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ruins of a Roman Bath with Washerwomen is a 1766 oil painting by French artist Hubert Robert, held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a ruined ancient Roman bath, where people are shown bathing and doing laundry. The scene combines historical grandeur with everyday activity, featuring a red carriage on a boat in the water, amidst statues, columns, and overgrown greenery.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work blends elements of the Rococo style with Robert's characteristic capricci, or semi-fictitious depictions of picturesque ruins, often incorporating real and imagined architectural elements.
Context
Robert's work was influenced by his association with the Romantic movement, and his frequent portrayal of Italian and French architectural decay.
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…
