Fantastic View of Tivoli
- Artist
- Hubert Robert, French, 1733–1808
- Date
- 1789
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- depicts
- Tivoli, Lazio region, Italy, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 95 x 75 1/8 in. (241.3 x 190.8 cm)
framed: 107 3/4 x 86 x 5 in. (273.7 x 218.4 x 12.7 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Frederic W. Allen
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 524:1955
NOTES
This ruined, round temple, from the early 1st century BC is traditionally identified as dedicated to the goddess Vesta. The temple was a popular destination for 18th-century travelers. Tourists would visit it en route to Hadrian's villa and the renowned 16th-century gardens of the Villa d'Este located approximately twenty-two miles northeast of Rome. Hubert Robert has added the rickety bridge and toiling worker to enhance the scene's dramatic impact.
Provenance
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (1857-1905), St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia [1]
by 1909 -
Peter Pavlovich Dournovo (1835-1919), St. Petersburg, Russia [2]
by 1929 -
The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia [3]
1930 - 1955
Mr. Frederic W. (1877-1933) and Irene C. (1875-1973) Allen, New York, NY, USA, purchased at the auction, “Fine Art Properties by order of Emanuel Naidis,” Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc., New York, April 3-5, 1930, lot no. 283 [4]
1955 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mrs. Frederic W. Allen [5]
Notes:
This painting is one of four decorative panels by Hubert Robert. The other three paintings, “The Column” (32:1956), “The Obelisk” (102:1957), and “The Ruin” (22:1958) share the same provenance and were all acquired by the Saint Louis Art Museum over four years.
[1] In Louis Reau’s 1929 catalogue on French paintings located in Russian museums, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich’s name is listed as former collector of four large decorative panels: l’Obelisque (The Obelisk), la Ruine (The Ruin), la Chute d’eau (Fantastic View of Tivoli), la Cascatelle dans le parc (The Column). [Reau, Louis. “Catalogue de l’art francais dan les musees russes.” Paris: Librairie Armand Colin, 1929, no. 306]. Alexandrovich was the seventh child of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, and served as the Governor General of Moscow from 1891 until his death in 1905. Alexandrovich was a prolific collector and patron of the arts. It is unknown how Alexandrovich acquired the four paintings, or how they were acquired by the next known collector Peter Dournovo.
[2] According to a 1910 catalogue for an exhibition held in St. Petersburg during the previous year, P. Dournowo lent four large and beautiful decorative paintings by Hubert Robert. [Benois, Alexandre, “Le Peinture francaise, italienne, et anglaise aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siecle” in” Les anciennes écoles de peinture dans les palais et collections privées russes représentées à l'exposition organisée à St-Pétersbourg en 1909 par la revue d'art ancien 'Staryé gody’.” Brussels: G. Van Oest & Co., 1910, p.119]. P. Dournowo is identified as Peter Pavlovich Dournovo, who was a statesman in Moscow and St. Petersburg and a collector of art.
[3] In Reau’s 1929 catalogue, the four paintings are listed under the section: the Hermitage and its annexes (see note [1]).
[4] This painting and the three other paintings by Hubert Robert were sold at public auction by the Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc. by order of Emanuel Naidis of Paris. See the auction catalog [“Fine Art Properties by order of Emanuel Naidis, Part 1.” Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc., New York, April 3-5, 1930, lot no. 283]. An article from the New York Times identifies Mr. Frederic W. Allen (incorrectly identified in the article as A. W. Frederick) as the purchaser of the four panels at the Wallace H. Day Galleries auction. [New York Times, “Naidis Art Brings $115,337,” April 6, 1930].
[5] Deed of Gift from Irene C. Allen, signed December 28, 1955 [SLAM Document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 8, 1955, ratified January 5, 1956.
by 1909 -
Peter Pavlovich Dournovo (1835-1919), St. Petersburg, Russia [2]
by 1929 -
The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia [3]
1930 - 1955
Mr. Frederic W. (1877-1933) and Irene C. (1875-1973) Allen, New York, NY, USA, purchased at the auction, “Fine Art Properties by order of Emanuel Naidis,” Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc., New York, April 3-5, 1930, lot no. 283 [4]
1955 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mrs. Frederic W. Allen [5]
Notes:
This painting is one of four decorative panels by Hubert Robert. The other three paintings, “The Column” (32:1956), “The Obelisk” (102:1957), and “The Ruin” (22:1958) share the same provenance and were all acquired by the Saint Louis Art Museum over four years.
[1] In Louis Reau’s 1929 catalogue on French paintings located in Russian museums, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich’s name is listed as former collector of four large decorative panels: l’Obelisque (The Obelisk), la Ruine (The Ruin), la Chute d’eau (Fantastic View of Tivoli), la Cascatelle dans le parc (The Column). [Reau, Louis. “Catalogue de l’art francais dan les musees russes.” Paris: Librairie Armand Colin, 1929, no. 306]. Alexandrovich was the seventh child of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, and served as the Governor General of Moscow from 1891 until his death in 1905. Alexandrovich was a prolific collector and patron of the arts. It is unknown how Alexandrovich acquired the four paintings, or how they were acquired by the next known collector Peter Dournovo.
[2] According to a 1910 catalogue for an exhibition held in St. Petersburg during the previous year, P. Dournowo lent four large and beautiful decorative paintings by Hubert Robert. [Benois, Alexandre, “Le Peinture francaise, italienne, et anglaise aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siecle” in” Les anciennes écoles de peinture dans les palais et collections privées russes représentées à l'exposition organisée à St-Pétersbourg en 1909 par la revue d'art ancien 'Staryé gody’.” Brussels: G. Van Oest & Co., 1910, p.119]. P. Dournowo is identified as Peter Pavlovich Dournovo, who was a statesman in Moscow and St. Petersburg and a collector of art.
[3] In Reau’s 1929 catalogue, the four paintings are listed under the section: the Hermitage and its annexes (see note [1]).
[4] This painting and the three other paintings by Hubert Robert were sold at public auction by the Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc. by order of Emanuel Naidis of Paris. See the auction catalog [“Fine Art Properties by order of Emanuel Naidis, Part 1.” Wallace H. Day Galleries, Inc., New York, April 3-5, 1930, lot no. 283]. An article from the New York Times identifies Mr. Frederic W. Allen (incorrectly identified in the article as A. W. Frederick) as the purchaser of the four panels at the Wallace H. Day Galleries auction. [New York Times, “Naidis Art Brings $115,337,” April 6, 1930].
[5] Deed of Gift from Irene C. Allen, signed December 28, 1955 [SLAM Document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 8, 1955, ratified January 5, 1956.