JEAN-BAPTISTE ROBIE (AFTER) Belgium, 1821–1910 Pair of Bountiful Arrangements of Fruit Oil on copper 19th century continental still-life oil paintings rendered in a classical, Old Master style, featuring bountiful arrangements of fruit against deeply shadowed backgrounds. Each one is housed in an ornate, gilded frame with intricate bead and scrollwork. Unsigned. 8.5 x 5 inches; frame: 13.5 x 10 inches $250-350
ARTIST PROFILE: Jean-Baptiste Robie (1821–1910), also known as Jean Robie, was a versatile Belgian artist and writer who initially rose to prominence as a self-taught specialist in floral and fruit still lifes. After receiving encouragement from his friend Théodore Fourmois, he pursued formal studies at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels under Balthazar-François Tasson and became a regular exhibitor at the Brussels Salon and the Paris Salon. While he is celebrated for his still lifes, his artistic range expanded to include seascapes, landscapes, and Oriental scenes inspired by his extensive travels through the Middle East, India, and Ceylon. Beyond the canvas, Robie was a prolific author who chronicled his Eastern journeys in travel books, alongside writing art theoretical works and an autobiographical essay.
