Figures on a road beside a walled village, a cart beyond the bridge

Another version of similar dimensions (33.3 x 44.6 cm.) is in the Albertina (inv. 12739) of which there is a counterproof in the Bibliothèque municipale, Besançon (Fonds Pierre-Adrien Pâris). The drawing in the Albertina is more highly finished and was probably executed when the artist was back in his studio whereas the present work was done on the spot. The tower on the left and the second row of the fortified wall are executed in a different shade of red chalk. Could the artist have added these motifs once back in his studio in order to enhance the composition?

The Besançon counterproof bears an inscription 'Napoli' which may indicate where Robert made these drawings. Robert travelled to Naples in mid-April 1760 with the abbé de Saint-Non and they remained in the city until early June.

We thank Sarah Catala for her kind help in cataloguing this lot.