Aurèle Robert

1805  Les Éplatures (Canton Neuchâtel) – 1871  Ried by Biel/Bienne 

1805  Born in Les Éplatures near La Chaux-de-Fonds

1817 – 1819  Apprenticeship as clockface engraver 

1822   At the beginning of February he joins his brother Léopold in Rome and works under his supervision. Produces numerous copies of Léopold’s works (pencil, sepia, Indian ink). This collection, which he completes after Léopold’s death, later becomes a valuable ‘Catalogue’  (in the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Neuchàtel).

1825  First own painting: San Paolo fuori le Mura after the fire

1827 – 1847  Establishes himself as genre painter (portraits of girls, “Pifferari”, rural scenes, buffaloes in the Pontine marshes, etc). Regular participation at the Paris Salon.

1828  June: trip with Léopold into the Pontine marshes. September: death of their mother in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

1829  June-July: while Léopold works in the Pontine marshes, Aurèle visits Naples and its surrounds. Back in Rome he paints an interior view of the Monastery of San Giovanni in Laterano.

1831  January: return to Switzerland. Gold medal at Pariser Salon for his two paintings Roman herdsman with his dogs and Monk’s boat at the Terni falls.

1832  December: Aurèle moves to live with his brother Léopold in Venice. Paints views of the Grand Canal, Venetian fishermen, numerous interior views of churches (14 of St Mark’s basilica).

1835   20 March: Léopold commits suicide. Aurèle returns to La Chaux-de-Fonds.

1836 – 1837  Stays in Paris: copies the most important of his brother’s works.

1838 – 1840  Second stay in Venice.

1841 – 1843  Third stay in Venice. November 1843: returns to Switzerland.

1844   Marries Julie Schneider, becomes resident in Biel/Bienne. Numerous portraits.

1845  Birth of first son, Aurèle

1849   Birth of daughter, Julie.

1851  Birth of son, Léo-Paul, who later becomes a painter, too.

1853  Purchases the small rural estate „Unteres Ried“ near Biel/Bienne.

1871  Dies at Ried near Biel/Bienne.