ROBIE, Jean-Baptiste
Belgian painter. He began his career painting portraits of Napoleon that were sold to English tourists on their way to Waterloo, site of the French leader’s defeat. He later turned to still-life, gaining a substantial reputation in Belgium, the United States, and France. Famous for his fruit and floral still-lifes, he was renowned as the Master of the Rose. His tightly executed depictions of lush cultivated flowers often composed in naturalist settings gave him a distinct place in the wide school of still-life painters.
He debuted at the Salon de Brussels in 1843, exhibiting there in 1848, 1854, 1857, 1860, 1863, 1867 and 1875. He was awarded the Knight of the Order of Leopold in 1861, the Knight of the Legion d’Honneur, an officer of the Order of Leopold in 1869 and a commander of the Order of Leopold in 1881.
Robie lived much of the time in London between 1848 and 1875 and established his reputation in the International market while there by exhibiting at the Royal Academy. He also traveled extensively to Italy, Spain, England, Germany, France, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and India.
