Le Temple Antique 1745 - 1808

"Le Temple Antique" is an etching by Hubert Robert, created between 1745 and 1808. The artwork depicts the ruins of an ancient temple with two figures standing in the foreground. The piece captures a sense of grandeur and decay with detailed hatching and cross-hatching techniques used to convey the texture of the stone. Robert's mastery of perspective and composition creates a dramatic scene, drawing the viewer's eye to the majestic ruins. The etching, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflects the Romantic era's fascination with history and the sublime.