Artwork
The Portrait Bust
The Portrait Bust is an ink print by the Baroque artist Hubert Robert. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Portrait Bust is an etching created by French artist Hubert Robert in 1770. It is a print that showcases Robert's skill in capturing atmospheric scenes through detailed work.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a seated figure holding a book, surrounded by dense foliage and architectural elements, including a columned building. The blurred face of the figure and the presence of scattered people in the background suggest a narrative that is open to interpretation.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, a technique that allows for intricate detail, The Portrait Bust reflects Robert's ability to blend realism with imaginative elements. The work is characteristic of Robert's style, which often incorporated classical motifs and picturesque scenes.
Context
The title 'Les Soirées de Rome' (Evenings in Rome) implies that this etching may be part of a series exploring themes related to Rome, possibly capturing the essence of evenings in the city through a blend of real and imagined elements.
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…
Les Soirées de Rome: Le Buste
The Statue before the Ruins
The Statue in Front of Ruins
Title Page
The Goddess, Diana on the Clouds
Steps to the Four Landmarks
Frontispiece for "Views of Tombs"
No. 1: Title Page
Capriccio of Antique Ruins with Men Gazing at a Classical Orator
Pool in a Formal Garden
A Practical Treatise on the Five Orders of Ancient Architecture
The Portrait Bust