Known fondly as "Robert des ruines" because of his penchant for painting ancient ruins,
was regarded during his lifetime as one of France's most successful and prominent artists. In the first monographic exhibition (26.06.2016 - 02.10.2016) showcasing Robert's full achievement as a draftsman and painter, some 50 paintings and 50 drawings will chart his development in Rome and subsequent high level of accomplishment after his return to Paris. The exhibition will also focus on Robert's lasting contribution to French visual culture and the fundamental role he played in promoting the architectural capriccio (caprice or fantasy), an art form in which famous monuments of antiquity and modernity were imaginatively combined to create striking and novel city scenes and landscapes. (Text: National Gallery of Art Washington)