Columbian Academy of Painting was one of the earliest art schools in the United States.
[4][5][nb 1] Robertson and his brother were key in disseminating a conservative taste and mode of expression in America.
Their students included John Vanderlyn, Francis Alexander, and, rare for the time, woman miniaturist Ann Hall.
[3] The brothers taught art to amateur and professional students with a wide variety of mediums and subjects.
Their methods were based upon those taught in European and British art schools at that time.