Théophile Robert
1879 Ried by Biel  -  1954 Neuchâtel

1879 Born in Biel at the “Unteres Ried” (“Lower Ried”), the family home, which had been acquired by his grandfather Aurèle. Son of Léo-Paul and Berthe Robert-de Rutté.

1893-1895 School in Neuchâtel and Lausanne.

1896-1897 Attends courses at the University and the Academy Neuchâtel. Works for several months at the studio of Clement Heaton in Neuchâtel.

October 1898 – May 1899 During his stay in Montpellier with artist Eugène Burnand (friend of his father) Théophile’s decision to become a painter matures.

October 1899 – March 1900 Stays in Fiesole and Florence together with his parents. Continues his training with his father. Becomes friends with Pierre Godet and makes the acquaintance of René Auberjonois.

1900-1907 Studies painting in Paris, at the studio Atelier de la Grande Chaumière. Spends two years attending courses taught by Jean-Léon Gérôme at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) and by portrait painter Jacques-Emile Blanche. Subsequently continues his training at the studios of Prunet and La Gandara. Between times stays again and again at Ried by Biel and in Saint-Blaise (NE), Lugano and Rome. 

September 1908 Marries Agnès Miéville. The couple spend the winter in Berlin. In spring they settle into the family home in Saint-Blaise 

1909 Friendship with Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier). Numerous important exhibitions in Switzerland and Germany. 

1912 Creates a large-scale Crucifixion (fresco) in the choir of the Pauluskirche (St Paul’s church) in Lucerne (architect Karl Moser). His career consolidates.

1918-1919 Théophile works in the studio of Le Corbusier and Amédée Ozenfant at Rue Jacob 20 in Paris.

1919-1929 Own studio at rue de l’Arbre sec 46 in Paris. Spends most summers in Switzerland.

1921 Great success at the Salon des Indépendants with his picture Summer afternoon (Après-midi d’été). 

1921-29 Intensive artistic period in Paris. One-man and collective exhibitions worldwide (France, Switzerland, Germany, Japan etc.), together with well-known contemporaries.

End 1922 Contract with Galerie Druet, Paris. Friendship with the painter Roger Bissière. 

1929 Wins a competition to paint the murals of the Roman Cathollic church in Tavannes (Bernese Jura), alongside works by Gino Severini from Rome and Alexandre Blanchet from Geneva 

1930 Leaves Paris and settles definitely in Saint-Blaise 

1930-1939 Several commissions for portraits and for the artistic designs of church interiors. In this period only a few easel paintings are created. 

1937 A fire destroys a large part of his studio in Saint-Blaise (oil paintings, books, letters, documents). His health suffers from this blow.

1940 Converts to Roman Catholicism. There follows a constant creative period. Up to the end of his life, Théophile creates numerous easel paintings (portraits, compositions, nude models, landscapes, still-life, bunches of flowers). Several exhibitions are dedicated to his works 

24 February, 1954 Dies in Neuchâtel.

A few months later, ceremonial opening of the permanent exhibition hall “Théophile Robert” in the Museum of Fine Arts of Neuchâtel. Large retrospective exhibition there in the “Amis des arts” rooms.

1979 Important retrospective exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts of Neuchâtel, marking his 100th birthday.