Louis Robert

Background

He was born at Louisiana Chaux-de-Fonds (Neuchâtel) in Switzerland, but left his native place with the engraver Jean Girardet at the age of sixteen for Paris.

Career

He was on the eve of obtaining the grand prix for engraving when the events of 1815 blasted his hopes, for Neuchâtel was restored to Prussia, and Robert was struck off the list of competitors as a foreigner. Whilst continuing his studies under Girardet he had never ceased to frequent the studio of David, and he now determined to become a painter, and only returned to his native country when his master himself was exiled. At Neuchâtel he attracted the notice of Roullet de Mezerac, who enabled him by a timely loan to proceed to Rome.

In depicting the customs and life of the people, of southern Italy especially, he showed peculiar feeling for the historical characteristics of their race.

After executing many detached studies of Italian life Robert conceived the idea of painting four great works which should represent at one and the same time the four seasons in Italy and the four leading races of its people. In the "Return from the Fête of the Madonna dell"Arco" (Louvre) he depicted the Neapolitans and the spring.

Florence and her autumn vineyards should now have furnished him with his third subject. There are a number of references to Robert"s paintings in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, one being specifically to "The Reapers".

Achievements

• This picture, exhibited at the Salon of 1827, achieved undoubted success and was bought for the Luxembourg by Charles X. But the work which appeared in 1831 the "Summer Reapers arriving in the Pontine Marshes" (Louvre), which became the property of Louis Philippe established the artist"s reputation.