Artwork

Statue of a Nude before a Window View

Statue of a Nude before a Window View, by Hubert Robert, chalk, 1760
Statue of a Nude before a Window View, by Hubert Robert, chalk, 1760

Statue of a Nude before a Window View is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Hubert Robert. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing, created around 1760 by French artist Hubert Robert, features a nude figure set against a window view, rendered in black chalk on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes a nude subject with an architectural or natural backdrop visible through a window, characteristic of Robert's blend of idealized and picturesque elements.

Technique & Style

Executed in black chalk, the drawing showcases Robert's handling of a medium often used for expressive and detailed work, aligning with the nuanced, semi-fictional scenes for which he was known.

History & Provenance

While the exact provenance of the drawing is not detailed here, its creation circa 1760 places it within Robert's active period, known for landscapes, capricci, and picturesque compositions.

Context

Emerging from the 18th-century artistic landscape, this work reflects Robert's association with Romanticism, blending classical subjects (the nude) with romanticized, possibly fictional, environments.

Legacy

As part of Robert's oeuvre, the drawing contributes to the broader appreciation of 18th-century French artistic trends, particularly the evolution of Romantic themes in drawing.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Hubert Robert

Artist

Hubert Robert

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…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.