ArtworkStatus unknown

The Old Temple

by Artist-Unknown

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oil paint (paint)223 × 255 Cm

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About the artwork

Artist supplied description.

The four large canvases by Hubert Robert in the Art Institute's collection were commissioned by wealthy ﬁnancier Jean-Joseph, Marquis de Laborde, to decorate a salon in his château at Méréville, France. Installed on all sides of the room, they would have suggested that the walls had dissolved, revealing fantasies of Classical architecture animated by scenes of everyday life. Robert was much sought after as a painter of architectural ruins, a genre that appealed to the late 18th-century taste for the antique. He cultivated his knowledge of antiquity over more than a decade of travel and study in Italy.

Artwork metadata

Structured fields synced from connected systems.

Medium	oil paint (paint)
Dimensions	223 × 255 Cm
Tags	ruinsarchitechturearchitecturearchitectureclassicaldecorationdecorativeItalytemplelandscapesCentury of Progressworld's fairsChicago World's Fairs
Certificate	Certificate not provided

Timeline

Chain of custody, exhibitions, and verification milestones synced from the provenance service.

Sat

Feb

note

M....

2026 at 08:25 PM

M. and Mme Beleys (sold 1869)

Sat

Feb

note

Adam Natanson (sold 1890)

2026 at 08:25 PM

Adam Natanson (sold 1890)

Sat

Feb

note

comte de Saint-Roman (sold 1866)

2026 at 08:25 PM

comte de Saint-Roman (sold 1866)

Sat

Feb

note

la Société Cail (sold 1874)

2026 at 08:25 PM

la Société Cail (sold 1874)

Sat

Feb

note

C. Gabillot, Hubert Robert et son temps

2026 at 08:25 PM

C. Gabillot, Hubert Robert et son temps (Paris, 1892), p. 168.

Sat

Feb

note

M....

2026 at 08:25 PM

M. Hériot (sold 1896)

Sat

Feb

note

duc de Sessa (sold 1868)

2026 at 08:25 PM

duc de Sessa (sold 1868)

Sat

Feb

note

M....

2026 at 08:25 PM

M. Heddle (sold 1889)

Sat

Feb

note

the château was owned successively by: M....

2026 at 08:25 PM

the château was owned successively by: M. Ters and Mme d’Espagnat (sold 1824)

Sat

Feb

note

Margaret Morgan Grasselli and Yuriko Jackall, Hubert Robert, exh. cat.

2026 at 08:16 PM

Margaret Morgan Grasselli and Yuriko Jackall, Hubert Robert, exh. cat. (Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 2016), 164-169, 240-241, cat. 76, (ill. p. 167).

Sat

Feb

exhibition

Washington D.C., National Gallery of Art, "Hubert Robert, " June 26 - October 2, 2016, cat. 76.

2026 at 08:16 PM

Washington D.C., National Gallery of Art, "Hubert Robert," June 26 - October 2, 2016, cat. 76.

Sat

Feb

note

Elisabeth Oy-Marra, “‘Ipsa ruina docet’: Die Ruine als Bildfigur der Erinnerung und kritischer Reflexion bei Hubert Robert,” Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Instituts in Florenz 52, 1

2026 at 08:08 PM

Elisabeth Oy-Marra, “‘Ipsa ruina docet’: Die Ruine als Bildfigur der Erinnerung und kritischer Reflexion bei Hubert Robert,” Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Instituts in Florenz 52, 1 (2008), pp. 102, 106, fig. 10.

Sat

Feb

note

Lola Kantor-Kazovsky, “Displeasure of Ruins: Piranesi and the Monuments of Ancient Rome,” Apollo 166, 546

2026 at 08:07 PM

Lola Kantor-Kazovsky, “Displeasure of Ruins: Piranesi and the Monuments of Ancient Rome,” Apollo 166, 546 (2007), p. 49, 50, fig. 5.

Sat

Feb

note

Larry Feinberg, “A Brief History of the Old Masters in the Art Institute of Chicago,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 32, 2

2026 at 08:06 PM

Larry Feinberg, “A Brief History of the Old Masters in the Art Institute of Chicago,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 32, 2 (2006), pp. 8, 10.

Sat

Feb

note

Victor Carlson, “Hubert Robert in Rome: Some Pen-and-Wash Drawings,” Master Drawings 39, 3

2026 at 08:01 PM

Victor Carlson, “Hubert Robert in Rome: Some Pen-and-Wash Drawings,” Master Drawings 39, 3 (2001), pp. 291, 299 n.5.

Sat

Feb

note

E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 2d ed., vol. 7

2026 at 07:54 PM

E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 2d ed., vol. 7 (Paris, 1954), p. 276.

Sat

Feb

note

George Isarlo, “Hubert Robert,” Connassiance des arts no. 18

2026 at 07:53 PM

George Isarlo, “Hubert Robert,” Connassiance des arts no. 18 (1953), p. 32, under no. 35, fig. 9.

Sat

Feb

note

Art Institute of Chicago, A Brief Illustrated Guide to the Collections

2026 at 07:41 PM

Art Institute of Chicago, A Brief Illustrated Guide to the Collections (Chicago, 1941), p. 32.

Sat

Feb

note

Art Institute of Chicago, A Brief Illustrated Guide to the Collections

2026 at 07:35 PM

Art Institute of Chicago, A Brief Illustrated Guide to the Collections (Chicago, 1935), p. 27.

Sat

Feb

note

R. Graul in Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, vol. 28

2026 at 07:34 PM

R. Graul in Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, vol. 28 (Leipzig, 1934), p. 420.

Wed

Feb

note

Susan Wise, in Susan Wise and Malcolm Warner, French and British Paintings from 1600 to 1800 in The Art Institute of Chicago

1996 at 05:37 AM

Susan Wise, in Susan Wise and Malcolm Warner, French and British Paintings from 1600 to 1800 in The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, 1996), p. 127–136, ill.

Tue

Feb

note

Paula Rea Radisich, “‘La chose publique’: Hubert Robert’s decorations for the ‘petit salon’ at Méréville,” in Ann Bermingham and John Brewer, The Consumption of Culture, 1600–1800

1995 at 05:37 AM

Paula Rea Radisich, “‘La chose publique’: Hubert Robert’s decorations for the ‘petit salon’ at Méréville,” in Ann Bermingham and John Brewer, The Consumption of Culture, 1600–1800 (London and New York, 1995), pp. 408–411, 412 n. 7, 413 n. 20, fig. 21.2.

Tue

Feb

note

Sophie Raux, Catalogue des dessins français du XVIIIe siècle de Claude Gillot à Hubert Robert: Palais des beaux-arts, Lille

1995 at 05:37 AM

Sophie Raux, Catalogue des dessins français du XVIIIe siècle de Claude Gillot à Hubert Robert: Palais des beaux-arts, Lille (Lillie, 1995), pp. 180–1, under no. 69, fig. 69c.

Sun

Feb

note

Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago: The Essential Guide

1993 at 05:37 AM

Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago: The Essential Guide (Chicago, 1993), p. 140; reprinted (Chicago, 2003); rev. ed. (Chicago, 2009); (Chicago, 2013).

Sun

Feb

note

Jean de Cayeux, in Cara D. Denison, Myra Nan Rosenfeld, and Stephanie Wiles, Exploring Rome: Piranesi and His Contemporaries, exh. cat.

1993 at 05:37 AM

Jean de Cayeux, in Cara D. Denison, Myra Nan Rosenfeld, and Stephanie Wiles, Exploring Rome: Piranesi and His Contemporaries, exh. cat. (The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, and Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, 1993), p. 186, under no. 105, fig. 2.

Sun

Feb

note

Gloria Groom, Edouard Vuillard: Painter-Decorator

1993 at 05:37 AM

Gloria Groom, Edouard Vuillard: Painter-Decorator (New Haven and London, 1993), p. 124.

Fri

Feb

note

Joseph Baillio, “Hubert Robert’s Decorations for the Château de Bagatelle,” Metropolitan Museum Journal 27

1992 at 05:37 AM

Joseph Baillio, “Hubert Robert’s Decorations for the Château de Bagatelle,” Metropolitan Museum Journal 27 (Essays in Memory of Guy C. Bauman) (1992), pp. 149, 176, 179 n. 1.

Thu

Feb

note

Christopher Wright, The World’s Master Paintings: From the Early Renaissance to the Present Day

1991 at 05:37 AM

Christopher Wright, The World’s Master Paintings: From the Early Renaissance to the Present Day (London and New York, 1991), vol. 1, pp. 458; vol. 2, 62, 600.

Wed

Feb

note

Jutta Held, Monument und Volk: Vorrevolutionäre Wahrnehmung in Bildern des ausgehenden Ancien Régime

1990 at 05:37 AM

Jutta Held, Monument und Volk: Vorrevolutionäre Wahrnehmung in Bildern des ausgehenden Ancien Régime (Cologne, 1990), p. 312, 314, 318–20 fig. 148.

Tue

Feb

note

Jean de Cayeux with Catherine Boulot, Hubert Robert

1989 at 05:37 AM

Jean de Cayeux with Catherine Boulot, Hubert Robert (Paris, 1989), pp. 153, 158, 162–64, 262.

Tue

Feb

note

John D. Bandiera, “Form and Meaning in Hubert Robert’s Ruin Caprices: Four Paintings of Fictive Ruins for the Château du Méréville,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 15, 1

1989 at 05:37 AM

John D. Bandiera, “Form and Meaning in Hubert Robert’s Ruin Caprices: Four Paintings of Fictive Ruins for the Château du Méréville,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 15, 1 (1989), pp. 21–37, 82–85, fig. 1.

Tue

Feb

note

Günter Herzog, Hubert Robert und das Bild im Garten

1989 at 05:37 AM

Günter Herzog, Hubert Robert und das Bild im Garten (Worms, 1989), pp. 105, 222 nn. 333, 335–37.

Tue

Feb

note

Jean de Cayeux, “Des amateurs compromettants,” in Catherine Boulot, Jean de Cayeux, and Hélène Moulin, Hubert Robert et la Révolution, exh. cat.

1989 at 05:37 AM

Jean de Cayeux, “Des amateurs compromettants,” in Catherine Boulot, Jean de Cayeux, and Hélène Moulin, Hubert Robert et la Révolution, exh. cat. (Musée de Valence, 1989), p. 12.

Sun

Feb

note

George Bernier, in Hubert Robert: The Pleasure of Ruins, exh. cat.

1988 at 05:37 AM

George Bernier, in Hubert Robert: The Pleasure of Ruins, exh. cat. (Wildenstein, New York, 1988), p. 88.

Sat

Feb

note

a letter from Bernard Binvel to Susan Wise dated May 5, 1987 states, perhaps erroneously, that Hériot sold the paintings in July of 1896]....

1987 at 05:37 AM

a letter from Bernard Binvel to Susan Wise dated May 5, 1987 states, perhaps erroneously, that Hériot sold the paintings in July of 1896]. M. L. François

Mon

Feb

note

Ellis Waterhouse, “Earlier Paintings in the Earlier Years of the Art Institute of Chicago: The Role of the Private Collectors,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 10

1983 at 05:37 AM

Ellis Waterhouse, “Earlier Paintings in the Earlier Years of the Art Institute of Chicago: The Role of the Private Collectors,” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 10 (1983), pp. 86, 91 n.11.

Mon

Feb

note

Annie Scottez, in Autour de David: Dessins néo-classiques du Musée de Beaux-Arts de Lille, exh. cat.

1983 at 05:37 AM

Annie Scottez, in Autour de David: Dessins néo-classiques du Musée de Beaux-Arts de Lille, exh. cat. (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lille, 1983), pp. 193, under no. 144.

Sun

Feb

note

Sotheby’s, London, Important Old Master Paintings, sale cat.

1982 at 05:37 AM

Sotheby’s, London, Important Old Master Paintings, sale cat. (June 23, 1982), n. pag., under lot 30.

Sat

Feb

note

Sotheby’s, London, Important Old Master Paintings, sale cat.

1981 at 05:37 AM

Sotheby’s, London, Important Old Master Paintings, sale cat. (July 8, 1981), n. pag., under lot 95.

Tue

Feb

note

André Corboz, Peinture militante et architecture révolutionnaire: A propos du thème du tunnel chez Hubert Robert

1978 at 05:37 AM

André Corboz, Peinture militante et architecture révolutionnaire: A propos du thème du tunnel chez Hubert Robert (Basel and Stuttgart, 1978), pp. 15–17, fig. 12.

Tue

Feb

note

Prudent Carpentier (sold 1897, at which time the contents of the house were dispersed and the paintings probably sold) [See Simone de Lassus 1978, cited above

1978 at 05:37 AM

Prudent Carpentier (sold 1897, at which time the contents of the house were dispersed and the paintings probably sold) [See Simone de Lassus 1978, cited above

Sat

Feb

note

the château was sold by Mme de Laborde, 1819 [see Simone de Lassus, “Quelques Détails inédits sur Méréville,” Bulletin de la Société de l’histoire de l’art français, année 1976 (1978), p....

1976 at 05:37 AM

the château was sold by Mme de Laborde, 1819 [see Simone de Lassus, “Quelques Détails inédits sur Méréville,” Bulletin de la Société de l’histoire de l’art français, année 1976 (1978), p. 286 n. 1]

Sat

Feb

exhibition

Art Institute of Chicago, Selected Works of Eighteenth-Century French Art in the Collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, January 28–April 25, 1976, no.14a.

1976 at 05:37 AM

Art Institute of Chicago, Selected Works of Eighteenth-Century French Art in the Collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, January 28–April 25, 1976, no.14a.

Sat

Feb

note

Marianne Roland-Michel, in Piranèse et les français, 1740–1790, exh. cat.

1976 at 05:37 AM

Marianne Roland-Michel, in Piranèse et les français, 1740–1790, exh. cat. (Villa Medici, Rome, 1976), p. 321, under no. 181.

Thu

Feb

note

Annette Vaillant, Le pain polka

1974 at 05:37 AM

Annette Vaillant, Le pain polka (Paris, 1974), p. 69.

Sat

Feb

note

John Maxon, The Art Institute of Chicago

1970 at 05:37 AM

John Maxon, The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, 1970), pp. 15, 62.

Fri

Feb

note

Olivier Choppin de Janvry, “Méréville,” L’Oeil no. 180

1969 at 05:37 AM

Olivier Choppin de Janvry, “Méréville,” L’Oeil no. 180 (1969), p. 83.

Tue

Feb

note

Hubert Burda, Die Ruine in den Bildern Hubert Robert

1967 at 05:37 AM

Hubert Burda, Die Ruine in den Bildern Hubert Robert (Munich, 1967), pp. 44, 67, 97, 99, fig. 131.

Tue

Feb

note

Art Institute of Chicago, Paintings in the Art Institute of Chicago: A Catalogue of the Picture Collection

1961 at 05:37 AM

Art Institute of Chicago, Paintings in the Art Institute of Chicago: A Catalogue of the Picture Collection (Chicago, 1961), pp. 401–02.

Tue

Feb

note

Ferdinand Boyer, “Les collections et les ventes de Jean-Joseph de Laborde,” Bulletin de la Société de l’histoire de l’art français, année 1961

1961 at 05:37 AM

Ferdinand Boyer, “Les collections et les ventes de Jean-Joseph de Laborde,” Bulletin de la Société de l’histoire de l’art français, année 1961 (1962), p. 147.