Plate Ten from Evenings in Rome 1763 - 1764

Hubert Robert created this print, Plate Ten from Evenings in Rome, using etching, probably sometime in the late 18th century. It depicts a group of figures gathered inside a ruined building, perhaps part of the Roman Forum. Robert was known for his images of picturesque ruins, and this print exemplifies that interest. In 18th-century Europe, there was a growing fascination with the classical past, and Rome became a popular destination for artists and intellectuals. Robert, as a student at the French Academy in Rome, spent much time drawing and painting the ancient ruins that were slowly being excavated, becoming both a documentarian and an interpreter of the past. The ruined state of the building may also be a comment on the transience of human achievement and the power of nature to reclaim what was once built. If we want to understand Robert's work better, we might look to the writings of his contemporaries, such as the philosopher Denis Diderot, who wrote extensively about the role of art in society and the importance of emotional response to it. These kinds of contextual details help us understand the social and cultural forces that shaped Robert's artistic vision.