"Incendie à Rome": The Dramatic Tale of Hubert Robert's The Fire of Rome

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Each morning I spend a few minutes searching the internet for an old painting or similar that I think looks cool (professional I know). Today it was this painting of a fire in Rome

(View the full sized image here)

I then give identifying info about the work to Perplexity with the instructions to research it and tell me all the interesting things it can about said work.

"Incendie à Rome": The Dramatic Tale of Hubert Robert's The Fire of Rome

In the glow of a burning city, women and children rush down stone steps, their vibrant clothing standing out against the darkened foreground. Above them, a massive arch towers over the scene, while beneath it, an inferno of orange and red devours Rome’s iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum and several temples. Atop the arch, a statue of Emperor Nero gazes impassively at the destruction—a striking image captured in Hubert Robert's 1785 painting, Incendie à Rome (The Fire of Rome, 18 July 64 AD).

The Historical Inferno

The painting depicts one of ancient Rome’s most devastating disasters—the great fire that began on the night of July 18, 64 AD. What started as a small blaze in the merchant district soon became an unstoppable force, with strong summer winds driving the flames through the city's dry wooden structures. The fire raged for six days and seven nights, ultimately consuming about seventy percent of the imperial capital.

The aftermath of the fire became even more controversial. Rumors circulated that Emperor Nero himself had orchestrated the disaster. While some accounts claim that he "fiddled while Rome burned" (a likely metaphor for his alleged inaction), suspicion grew as he quickly unveiled grand rebuilding projects in his own name.

To deflect blame, Nero accused Rome’s small Christian community of starting the fire, citing their apocalyptic beliefs. This led to brutal persecutions that became as infamous as the fire itself, cementing Nero’s legacy in history.

A Study in Contrast and Composition

Robert’s mastery of contrast is evident in this 76 x 93 cm oil painting. The fiery destruction at the center, painted in vivid oranges and reds, draws immediate attention. Against this backdrop, the fleeing women and children wear strikingly colored garments that stand out against the darkened foreground, reinforcing a narrative of innocence in the face of chaos.

A grand Roman arch serves as both an architectural frame and a symbolic centerpiece. In Roman culture, arches signified strength, balance, and stability. Yet here, people flee from it as fire rages beneath, creating a powerful contrast between human engineering and the forces of destruction.

Layers of Meaning

Beyond its historical depiction, The Fire of Rome invites deeper interpretation. The contrast between the fire and the fleeing civilians could symbolize the eternal struggle between chaos and order. The women may represent ancient civilizations, while the children symbolize modern ones—different yet capable of coexistence.

Some interpret the fire as divine judgment, a reminder of human frailty. The statue of Nero atop the arch underscores his role in the disaster, while the arch itself, resembling a furnace with smoke billowing upward, could suggest Rome’s moral decay under his rule.

The Master of Ruins

The painting aligns perfectly with Hubert Robert’s artistic style and the tastes of his time. Known as "Robert des ruines" (Robert of the ruins), he was deeply influenced by his years in Rome from 1754 to 1765, where he studied the works of Panini and Piranesi.

When he presented the painting at the 1767 Salon de Paris, it was met with enthusiasm by both the public and critics, including the influential Diderot. The historical subject allowed Robert to blend his passion for architectural grandeur with the era’s fascination with the “sublime”—art that evoked powerful emotions through spectacle.

Today, the painting is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts André Malraux in Le Havre, France, where it continues to captivate viewers with its dramatic portrayal of one of history’s most infamous fires and the political intrigue that followed.

And that's it!

If you have any details you think Perplexity left out, reply to this email and I'll adjust my prompt to nudge it to include it next time.

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Thanks for reading!

-JP

Current prompt: I want you to create a newsletter post describing the fun and exciting stories around a painting. It should be a newsletter read for leisure and should be an enjoyable read (not just a list of facts) here's what you’re gonna do: Find the name of the following painting in its original language and any alternative names it goes by. Then Research the painting and give me blurb telling me all you can about the artist, the historical context/events it was created in, the style, the materials used, the composition and visual elements, the story/underlying message, what inspired the work/what it meant to the author, and whatever other info you find that helps give a complete understanding of the work. A description of what is depicted (mention subjects) should be the first thing, while the “biography” of the artist should be last. Besides that you are free to present the information in a concise and captivating way, with the most interesting and novel stuff closest to the top. Order the presentation of information for which pieces have the most compelling and interesting story to tell. At least some of the description should be formatted like a story. [fore example: a couple sits on a bench watching the sunset while a man next to them…]. ONLY include information that is for THIS SPECIFIC PAINTING. you will find info on paintings similar to this one but NOT this one. OMMIT INFO ABOUT SUCH PIECES.