
Hubert RobertFrench, 1733–1808Villa Madama near Rome
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Villa Madama near Rome” now? Collection: State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. Not on view at present. Checked August 29, 2026.
Saint Petersburg, Russia
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
Details
- Accession number
- ГЭ-7593
In the catalog
Sources
- State Hermitage Museum
- Image: State Hermitage Museum — Museum open access
In the life of Hubert Robert
The whole life1754–1765 · Workplace
Rome
1754–1765
Roman circle: Panini, Piranesi, Fragonard
In Rome Robert studied perspective under the veduta master Giovanni Paolo Panini, met Piranesi, and became friends with Jean-Honoré Fragonard and the Abbé de Saint-Non; with Fragonard he drew from nature in Rome and its environs and stayed for long periods at the Villa d'Este in Tivoli.
1759
Studies at the French Academy in Rome
From 1759 Robert studied at the French Academy in Rome at the Villa Medici, though he never won the prestigious Prix de Rome.
April 1760
Journey to Naples and Paestum
The Abbé de Saint-Non took Robert and Fragonard to Naples to visit the famous sites of Campania — the excavations of Pompeii and the Doric temples of Paestum, which long continued to inspire Robert after his return to France.
August 1765
Return to Paris
After eleven years in Italy Robert returned to Paris, where his success was swift.
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.

