Personnages dans des ruines

22. maj 1733

Born

1745–1751 · Uddannelse

Collège de Navarre

4 November 1754

Arrival in Rome

Under the patronage of the future Duc de Choiseul, appointed French ambassador in Rome, Robert set off for Italy and arrived in Rome on 4 November 1754, spending eleven years there.

1767

Debut at the Paris Salon

Robert presented thirteen paintings and numerous drawings of ruined classical architecture at the Salon, winning critical acclaim; Diderot wrote: "The ideas that ruins awaken in me are grand." He continued to take part in the Salons regularly until 1798.

1778

Keeper of the Royal Museum

When the decision was made to open a museum in the Louvre, Robert was appointed keeper of the Royal Museum, charged with preparing the masterpieces of the royal collection for exhibition. Until 1793 he lived in the Grande Galerie of the Louvre.

29 October 1793

Arrest during the Revolution

The revolutionary surveillance committee arrested Robert on suspicion of disloyalty and imprisoned him in Sainte-Pélagie; on 31 January 1794 he was transferred to Saint-Lazare. In prison he drew a great deal, painted scenes of prison life, and decorated plates for sale.