Artwork
Young Woman with Donkeys Riding under a Natural Bridge
Young Woman with Donkeys Riding under a Natural Bridge is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Hubert Robert. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Young Woman with Donkeys Riding under a Natural Bridge is a 1770 drawing by Hubert Robert, executed in red chalk counterproof. This medium allowed for the creation of multiple copies with reversed compositions.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a serene, semi-fictitious scene of a young woman and donkeys passing beneath a natural rock bridge, blending naturalistic elements with a touch of imaginative, picturesque charm.
Technique & Style
Robert employed red chalk counterproof, a technique producing mirrored images on a new sheet. His style here, characteristic of early Romanticism, emphasizes the interplay of light, shadow, and the sublime in nature.
History & Provenance
Created in 1770, the work is part of Robert's oeuvre known for landscapes and capricci, often featuring European ruins and idyllic settings.
Context
This piece reflects Robert's fascination with Italian and French landscapes, blending reality with fantastical elements, a hallmark of his contribution to the Romantic movement.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hubert Robert (French pronunciation:; 22 May 1733 – 15 April 1808) was a French painter in the school of Romanticism, noted especially for his landscape paintings and capricci, or semi-fictitious picturesque depictions of ruins in Italy…
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