Pyramid of Cestius, Rome

This 1759 painting of the Pyramid of Cestius in Rome depicts the ancient Egyptian-style tomb that stands beside the Protestant Cemetery. The pyramid was a favorite subject of artists in Rome, its exotic form contrasting with the surrounding classical and medieval architecture. Robert painted in oil on canvas with a broad confident touch suited to architectural subjects at large scale, using warm ochres and rich browns for masonry contrasting with cool blues for sky. His prolific output of rui...

The painting renders the distinctive pyramid form with Robert's characteristic attention to texture and atmosphere, setting it within a broader Roman landscape.