Looting of Royal Tombs in Saint-Denis Basilica by Hubert Robert. Workers dismantle stone tombs within a dark, vaulted crypt while light streams from the Gothic windows of the basilica above.

Looting of Royal Tombs in Saint-Denis Basilica

Hubert Robert

1793 · Oil Paint, Canvas

A haunting and atmospheric depiction of the profanation of royal tombs in the Basilica of Saint-Denis by Hubert Robert.

$129

For the selected configuration

From $129

1 frame size

Frame size
Frame color
Mount
Paper type
Glaze

Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)

Where it works

A grounded artwork with confident presence with warm, lived-in color — supports a polished room with depth.

Often works in
Library · Study · Living Room
Placement
Reads best above substantial furniture or an open wall
Walls
Benefits from light or mid-tone surroundings
Color notes
Charcoal black, Deep burgundy, Olive green

About the piece

Painted in 1793, this work by Hubert Robert captures the historic looting of the royal tombs at Saint-Denis Basilica during the French Revolution. The composition masterfully contrasts the deep, shadowy recesses of the subterranean vaults with the bright, ethereal light streaming through the Gothic windows above, creating a sense of dramatic tension and architectural grandeur characteristic of Robert's fascination with ruins and history.

More like this

Pillage of a House in the Giudecca of Venice in the Middle Ages

Contains disturbing content

Dark Academia

Pillage of a House in the Giudecca of Venice in the Middle Ages

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury

A dramatic 19th-century history painting capturing a moment of intense conflict and turmoil in medieval Venice.

Graveyard under Snow

Contains disturbing content

Moody Landscapes

Graveyard under Snow

Caspar David Friedrich

A hauntingly beautiful winter scene by Caspar David Friedrich, capturing the quiet stillness of a snow-covered cemetery.