Pre-Romantic artist Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros was born in Moudon, Switzerland in 1748 on July 21st. He was a painter, watercolorist and engraver who created hundreds of pieces.
A View of Subiaco, www.artnet.com
At the age of 21, Ducros moved to Geneva where he studied under Nicolas-Henri-Joseph de Fassin. Near the end of 1776, he moved to Rome and stayed there for sixteen years. During 1778, he was employed by two Dutchmen. He joined them on a four month journey to what was the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Malta. There, he created nearly three-hundred watercolors all which are currently held at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
During his time in Rome, he mainly did landscape paintings. He also collaborated with engraver Giovanni Volpato. In 1780, he published twenty-four engravings representing Rome and its surroundings.
View of the Harbor of Civita Vecchia with Volpato, www.artnet.com
In 1782, he was commissioned by Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovitch of Russia for two paintings as well as a commission from Pope Pius VI.
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Paris and Helen - Venus and Amor Escort Paris to Bed Chamber of Helen, www.artnet.com
In 1784, Ducros was commissioned by a few Englishmen who were on the Grand Tour of Europe including Sir Richard Colt Hoare and Lord Breadalbane. However, his biggest buyer was Gustav III of Sweden.
A Lanscape with the Ponte Molle Rome, www.artnet.com
A few years later was the start of the French Revolution. This led to the expulsion of many French people from the Papal States and because Ducros was considered a Jacobin, he was banned in 1793. He moved to Abruzzo and then in 1799 to Naples. There, he would create several works of Mount Etna and Campania. Sir William Hamilton and Lord Acton were buyers of his work at this time.
In 800, he returned to Malta and painted a piece of Valletta for General Thomas Graham who had recently defeated the island.
Seven years later in 1807, Ducros returned to Switzerland. He was named an honorary member of the Society of Arts that same year in Geneva. Two years later, he was dubbed the professor of painting in Bern at the Academy but unfortunately died on February 18th before undertaking the position.
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Intrieur des Thermes de Caracalla, www.artnet.com
His works are mainly held at the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts in Lausanne and at the English estates of Stourhead and Bramall Hall.
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Excellent write-up! As an historian, I've always loved studying art, especially stuff made pre-WWI. I got to take an art history course in college that covered 1500-1750 but I definitely prefer investigating individual artists one at a time rather than being bombarded with tons of info like the textbooks.
I had the pleasure of going to Amsterdam several years ago and visiting the Rijksmuseum was one of my favorite memories from there!
I would love to go to the Rijksmuseum one day!