Pair of Paintings: The Colonnade of St. Peter's, Rome, during the Conclave and The Grotto of Posillipo
Hubert Robert·c.1769
Historical Context
Robert's pair of Colonnade of St. Peter's paintings at the Cleveland Museum demonstrates his practice of producing companion works — pairs or series of paintings that were sold together to furnish a coherent decorative program for a single interior. The colonnade subject, with its combination of Bernini's magnificent baroque architecture and the specific human drama of the conclave, provided Robert with material for variations that explored different lighting conditions, figure arrangements, and atmospheric effects within the same architectural setting. The practice of painting in series was central to his commercial strategy, allowing collectors to furnish entire rooms with a unified decorative vision.
Technical Analysis
The pendant format allows Robert to juxtapose the geometric grandeur of Bernini's colonnade with the raw, organic forms of the Neapolitan grotto. Both paintings share a consistent warm palette and atmospheric treatment, unified by Robert's characteristic handling of light and architectural space.
Provenance
Denis-Pierre Papillon de la Ferte; Marius Paulme (sold, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, November 22, 1923, lots 76 and 77, to Henri Boudonneau); 1923 - 1949 Henri Boudonneau (Paris, France), by inheritance to his son, Rene Boudonneau, 1949; 1949 - 1961 Rene Boudonneau, by inheritance to his wife, Mme S. A. Boudonneau, 1961; 1961 - 1974 Mme S. A. Boudonneau (Geneva, Switzerland) (sold, Christie's, London, December 13, 1974, lot 146, to Gallerie Cailleux; 1974 - 1976 Gallery Cailleux (Paris, France) sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1976.
