Robert Caney

Robert Caney was an artist whose documented active period spanned a wide chronological range, from 1552 through 1900. His preserved oeuvre consists primarily of detailed drawings focused on fantastic, theatrical, and imaginary architectural or landscape subjects.

Fifteen drawings by Caney are represented in institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Art. The artist’s subject matter often leans toward the dramatic and sublime, featuring works such as Fantastic Mountainous Landscape with a Starry Sky, Fantastic Pavilions in a Grotto, and the unsettling Flying Monster. Other compositions suggest literary or historical influence, exemplified by the drawing Harold Scene 3 Cathedral (The relics covered with cloth at centre) and A Fantastic Underground Temple (Aladdin's Cave?).

The high-quality prints derived from these extant works document Caney’s skill in depicting intricate environments. Today, these Robert Caney prints are valued for their imaginative content. Their preservation in the National Gallery of Art allows researchers and the public access to museum-quality examples of imaginative drafting.