The symmetrical design of the Princess Lodge in Bedford appealed to Robert. His strong use of light and shade adds a sense of vitality to the classic façade. When Robert began his career as an artist, he accepted a few commissions to paint “portraits of houses.” He challenged himself to create accurate depictions of the buildings, through layer upon layer of translucent washes, and at the same time to convey a sense of atmosphere and place using dramatic lighting and a loose handling of background trees and grasses.

This painting was created for the cover of a book by architecture historian Elizabeth Pacey.