The Fountain
1777–79
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
68 1/4 x 31 3/8 in. (173.4 x 79.7 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
Hubert Robert, the 18th-century French painter called "Robert des Ru," masterfully captures the grandeur of antiquity in *The Fountain* (1777–79). This large-scale oil on canvas, measuring over five feet tall, exemplifies his signature style of architectural capriccios—fantastical scenes blending ruins with everyday life. Created during Robert's mature period after years studying in Rome, the painting draws from his fascination with ancient Roman architecture, evoking a sense of timeless elegance amid decay. At the center rises an ornate fountain flanked by towering columns and monumental scu...
About the Artist
Hubert Robert · 1733–1808
Hubert Robert, born on May 22, 1733, in Paris, emerged from a modest background; his father, Nicolas Robert, served the influential Choiseul family, whose patronage shaped the young artist's path. After completing his studies at the Jesuit Collège de Navarre in 1751, he entered the atelier of sculptor Michel-Ange Slodtz, who taught him design and perspective before encouraging a shift to painting....