DISCOVERART

Hubert Robert

The Nest Robber

1780s
Red chalk, with touches of orange chalk, with touches of pen and brown ink, on cream laid paper, incised with a compass, laid down on blue wove board
36.3 × 28.7 cm (14.3 × 11.3 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Hubert Robert began drawing red chalk landscapes as a student in Italy and continued to do so throughout his life, drawing from nature and from his imagination. This charming drawing from his mature career offers a Rococo amorous theme favored by Robert’s predecessors Antoine Watteau and François Boucher—that of bird-catching. The inscription on the rock is from Virgil and translates to “So you not for yourselves build nests, O birds,” a call to be unselfish with one’s creations.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Hubert Robert

The Bathing PoolThe Bathing PoolThe Mouth of a CaveThe Mouth of a CaveThe DanceThe DanceBridge over a CascadeBridge over a CascadeWandering MinstrelsWandering MinstrelsA Colonnade in RuinsA Colonnade in RuinsThe Landing PlaceThe Landing PlaceThe FountainsThe Fountains

More like this

Plate Five of 38 from Oeuvres de J. B. HuetJean Baptiste Huet — Plate Five of 38 from Oeuvres de J. B. Winding Road Beside Lake, with Large Tree and Resting Traveler in ForegroundWilliam Marshall Craig — Winding Road Beside Lake, with LargFigures in Idyllic Italianate LandscapeFranz Kobell — Figures in Idyllic Italianate LandscapeRest on the Flight into EgyptAgostino Carracci — Rest on the Flight into EgyptTemple of Jupiter in Island of Aegina, plate 77 from Liber StudiorumJoseph Mallord William Turner — Temple of Jupiter in Island Plate Six of 38 from Oeuvres de J. B. HuetJean Baptiste Huet — Plate Six of 38 from Oeuvres de J. B. HLandscape with Man Carrying StaffPierre Antoine Mongin — Landscape with Man Carrying StaffLandscape with WayfarersFerdinand Kobell — Landscape with WayfarersWarrior and Dog Resting by Rocky RapidsFranz Kobell — Warrior and Dog Resting by Rocky RapidsA Large Tree at AlbanoJacob Philipp Hackert — A Large Tree at AlbanoThe WasherwomenJean Baptiste Le Prince — The WasherwomenGardens of the Villa Pamphili, RomeHubert Robert|Anonymous, French, 18th century — Gardens of t