A painter of landscapes and still lifes, Robie is chiefly known for his paintings of fruit and flowers (a.o. roses), seemly set down casually on a woodland path or at the water’s edge. In this sense, he broke with the 18th century tradition of meticulously arranged, ostentatious still lifes of flowers. He also painted close-ups of wild plants growing in their natural setting. His compositions stand out for their exquisite rendering of texture and rich colouration.