French School Of The 18th Century, Circle Of Hubert Robert (1733-1808), Landscape In The Antique Style

French School, 18th century
Circle of Hubert Robert (1733–1808)
Landscape with Antique Ruins

Red chalk on paper, 31 x 20.5 cm

Collector’s stamp lower left, very faint: “LsD” (Lugt 1768a)
Inscriptions “12” and “9” upper right

Provenance:
Collection Louis Deglatigny (1854–1936)
Probably his sale, Paris, 14–15 June 1937 (experts Féral, Catroux and Huteau)

This red chalk landscape fully belongs to the French 18th-century tradition, shaped by a fascination with Antiquity and the study of Italian ruins. The composition presents a monumental architectural structure, perhaps a portico or antique arch, whose vertical mass organizes the sheet, while to the right a cluster of trees provides balance through softer, more animated forms. In the foreground, a small seated figure enlivens the scene and introduces a contemplative dimension characteristic of ruin imagery.

The handling of the red chalk reveals a confident and sensitive hand: volumes are suggested through supple hatching and light stumping, allowing the paper to breathe. The atmosphere is achieved without excess, maintaining a refined balance between architectural precision and freedom of execution. This union of structure and poetic sensibility directly recalls the art of Hubert Robert and his circle.

The numbering visible in the upper right (“12” and “9”) suggests that the sheet may once have belonged to an album. Several albums of drawings by Hubert Robert were dispersed during the sale of the Louis Deglatigny collection in June 1937, including an important group originating from the Destailleur album. The presence of the “LsD” stamp (Lugt 1768a) further strengthens this hypothesis and constitutes a significant element in the sheet’s history.

While a direct attribution cannot be firmly established, the work may be presented as French School, 18th century, in the manner of Hubert Robert, with the plausible suggestion that it once formed part of an album from his circle.

Condition: preserved in its original state, showing age-related marks and surface soiling; a light restoration and appropriate framing are recommended to ensure proper conservation and presentation.