Leopold et Aurele Robert

Léopold Robert, a Swiss painter of the romantic era, created idealized depictions of Italian brigand life with the help of his brother Aurèle. Despite his success, he died of melancholy and unrequited love for Princess Charlotte Bonaparte. This book pays tribute to their art and brings their skill as painters back into focus, with scholarly essays and 170 color plates.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 16 August 2023
Publisher: Scheidegger und Spiess AG, Verlag

Léopold Robert, a Swiss painter who lived from 1794 to 1835, is a quintessential representation of the romantic notion of an artist with a tragic fate. He received his education in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and in the workshops of renowned artists Jacques-Louis David and Edouard Girardet. In 1818, he relocated to Italy, where he created idealized portrayals of Italian brigand life with the substantial support of his brother and fellow artist Aurèle (1805–71). Despite his widespread acclaim throughout Europe, his success as a painter could not shield him from the profound melancholy that ultimately drove him to take his own life in 1835, exacerbated by his unrequited love for Princess Charlotte Bonaparte.

Throughout their lifetime, the Robert brothers were cherished and esteemed by collectors and art critics alike. However, their artistic legacy gradually faded into obscurity after Léopold's passing and Aurèle's subsequent return to Switzerland. To honor their art and re-emphasize their remarkable skill as painters, this book was published in conjunction with a dual exhibition at the Musée dart et dhistoire in Neuchâtel and the Musée des beaux-arts in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the birthplace of the Robert brothers. The project, which involved extensive research at the University of Neuchâtel and the École du Louvre in Paris, features scholarly essays alongside approximately 170 color plates. The text is presented in French.

Dimension: 285 x 235 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783858818874