Hubert Robert

André Manassé;
His sale, Paris, Palais Galliera, May 26, 1972, lot 22;
With J.O. Leegenhoek, Paris;
From whom acquired in November 1972 by Robert D. Brewster, New York;
By whose Estate sold, New York, Sotheby's, May 19, 1995, lot 124, for $217,000, where purchased by the present owner.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in beautiful condition. The canvas has been lined using glue as an adhesive and the paint layer is stable. The picture has been fairly recently cleaned, varnished and retouched. There are hardly any retouches visible under ultraviolet light and although there may be a few dots of retouching in the thin greens in the center of the picture, the remainder of the painting is in lovely state.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Robert spent the months of July and August of 1760 at the Villa d'Este, outside Rome, in the company of Jean-Honoré Fragonard and the Abbé de Saint-Non, and their stay there had been arranged with the Duke of Modena by their protector the Bailli de Breuteuil. The numerous drawings of the fountains and gardens that Robert executed at the villa provided the source for many of his later paintings, many of which he produced after his return to Paris in 1765.

This work will be included in the forthcoming critical catalogue of the paintings of Hubert Robert being prepared by The Wildenstein Institute.

A note on the provenance: Robert D. Brewster (1916-1995) was the grandson of Benjamin Brewster, a founder of the Standard Oil company. His collection was perhaps best known for the numerous miniatures of the sovereigns of European countries and their courtiers, mostly dating from the last quarter of the eighteenth century to the middle of the nineteenth century. His collection also included a large number of eighteenth century French Old Masters such as the present lot.