An Artist Seated in the Ruins of the Colosseum c. 1759

"An Artist Seated in the Ruins of the Colosseum" (c. 1759) by Hubert Robert is a red chalk drawing depicting the artist himself sketching amidst the ruins of the Colosseum. The composition highlights the juxtaposition of nature and the remains of Roman grandeur, a common theme in Robert's work. The artist's focus on the grandeur of ancient Rome, while also showing the passage of time and decay, made Robert a leading figure in the neoclassical movement. This drawing, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies Robert's artistic vision and his fascination with the ruins of the past.