Book  (Feb 2009)  Page(s) 34.  
 
‘Robert le Diable’: Les rosiers de Provins. Parents non connus, mais il est admis qu’il s’agirait d’un croisement entre un Provins et un Centfeuilles. Apparu en 1850… Les roses, assez grandes, sont faites de pétales cornés et pointus imbriqués les uns dans les autres en rosettes plutôt irrégulières. Variant selon la température et le stade de la floraison, leur couleur mêle un pourpre ombré de gris à des éclats cerise et rouge vif… la pluie les tache. Le feuillage ample, d’un beau vert vif, craint le marsonia, surtout lorsqu’on le cultive en plein soleil.

Book  (Jul 1998)  Page(s) 251-252.  
 
Robert le Diable Before 1837. Habit: a shrub not as upright as the Gallica-type, quite strong branches, but arching under the weight of the blooms; numerous hooked prickles, bristles. Habit closer to that of Centifolias than to that of Gallicas. Foliage: light green, medium to large leaflets, elliptical, thick and embossed. Bloom: quite spiralled on opening; in clusters of 3, more rarely solitary or in pairs; medium to large, double; reflexed petals; long sepals. Colour: light violet-purple; fades to very light violet. Fragrance: strong....Rosaries and rose growers classify this variety rather as a centifolia. On the other hand, two old catalogues in which we have found it, classify it as "Provins"....The fact that one does not find it in any French catalogue, but only in those of Van Houtte in Ghent and Sisley-Vandael, in Paris, but a specialist of imports from Holland and Belgium, let's us belive that this could be a variety coming from one of these two countries. The catalogue of Sisley-Vandael of 1837 - the first mention of "Robert le diable" which we have found - describes it as "vivid flesh-colour". The opera Robert le diable having been created in 1831, this variety could sate to the beginnings of the July monarchy.

Book  (1997)  Page(s) 153.  Includes photo(s).
 
Centifolia. (France) No date given. Description and vital statistics. Colour of flowers -- produced later than most -- difficult to describe but on the crimson side of red... green eye...

Book  (1995)  Page(s) 164.  Includes photo(s).

Book  (Apr 1993)  Page(s) 499.  
 
Robert le Diable Gallica, scarlet-pink aging to deep purple, Prior to 1837. Description.

Book  (Feb 1993)  Page(s) 64.  Includes photo(s).

Book  (1988)  Page(s) 45.  Includes photo(s).
 
A late-flowering rose, in which the influence of both r. gallica and R. chinensis can be seen, known since 1850 in France. Description... Susceptible to blackspot and damage by rain.

Book  (1987)  Page(s) 46.  
 
Centifolia. Not unlike the Gallicas, in the smallness of its dark, coarse, stiff leaves.., slaty-purple richly veined with crimson and scarlet.

Website/Catalog  (1982)  Page(s) 31.  
 

Robert le Diable (Centifolia) Supposed to be better than most in hot weather. The colour is difficult to describe but on the crimson side of red, with lilac and grey highlights and dark purple shadings. A useful and interesting small shrub. Date unknown. (R) 3 x 3’.

Magazine  (1978)  Page(s) 262.  
 
With Robert le Diable one gets right away from the more usual pinks, for it produces flowers of a wonderful deep purple that is splashed with blue and brilliant carmine. The blooms are perfectly shaped, the petals recurving and rather paler in colour towards the edge. These many-coloured petals are difficult to describe effectively, but its charm and unusualness should earn it a place in every small garden.