Studio of an Antiquities Restorer in Rome 1783

Hubert Robert made this painting of an antiquities restorer's studio in Rome. It is a scene bustling with activity amid classical sculptures. It reflects a moment when Europe was consumed with rediscovering and preserving its classical past. The studio is filled with the remnants of ancient grandeur and the energy of labor. The restorers, however, play a critical role in shaping our understanding of history. They are the intermediaries between the past and the present. Their work invites us to consider how the narratives of history are constructed and whose voices are amplified or silenced in the process. The question is, who gets to tell history? Whose versions are we seeing? The painting also quietly asks about the role of labor. We might also reflect on the unnamed workers, the labor they are performing, and their place in this story of cultural rediscovery. In essence, Robert’s painting urges us to consider the stories we tell about ourselves and the world around us.