Monuments of Paris 1700 - 1800

Hubert Robert made this drawing called "Monuments of Paris" using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The artist shows us a fantasy of Paris as a museum, where monuments from different times and places are brought together. Robert was interested in the ways that buildings and monuments shaped the identity of a city. He worked at a time when Paris was undergoing big changes, so we can see that the artwork reflects a growing interest in preserving the city's heritage. In France at the time, there was a growing sense of national pride and a desire to create a unified national identity. The French monarchy and the Academy of Art both played an important role in shaping the artistic and cultural landscape of Paris. By studying Robert's drawings alongside the social history of Paris, we can better understand the role of art in shaping our understanding of the city, and the politics of national identity.