Self-Portrait 1949 r
ed chalk on grey paper 27.3 x 19.6 cm
Roberts was a pioneer, among English artists, in his use of abstract images. In later years he described his approach as that of an "English Cubist". In the First World War he served as a gunner on the Western Front, and in 1918 became an official war artist. Roberts's first one-man show was at the Chenil Gallery in London in 1923, and a number of his paintings from the twenties were purchased by the Contemporary Art Society for provincial galleries in the UK. In the 1930s it could be argued that Roberts was artistically at the top of his game; but, although his work was exhibited regularly in London and, increasingly, internationally, he always struggled financially. This situation became worse during the Second World War – although Roberts did carry out some commissions as a war artist.
Roberts is probably best remembered for the large, complex and colourful compositions that he exhibited annually at the Royal Academy summer exhibition from the 1950s until his death. He had a major retrospective at the Tate Gallery in 1965, and was elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1966. There has recently been a revival of interest in the work of this artist who always worked outside the mainstream.
Note: All images © reserved (Bona Vacantia)
This is part 8 of a 20-part series on the works of William Roberts:
c1930 Sawing Wood
graphite on paper 10.8 x 15.2 cm
Tate Gallery, Londonc1930 Sawing Wood
oil on canvas 48 x 63 cmc1930 The German Prisoner
black chalk 19.6 x 12.4 cmc1930 The German Prisoner
frontispiece to James Hanley's "The German Prisoner"
ink1931 Les Routiers
pencil, squared 25.5 x 19 cm1931 Les Routiers
oil on canvas 101 x 76.3 cm1931 Sun-Bathing – study pencil, squared
16.5 x 20 cm1931 Sun-Bathing pencil, squared in red ink
23.5 x 28.6 cm 1931 Sun-Bathers
watercolour and pencil 25.5 x 35.6 cmc1931-32 At the Ballet – study for The Ballet
black chalk and pencil 12 x 12.5 cmc1931 The Ballet
pencil, lightly squared 17.8 x 19.7 cmc1931 The Ballet
oil on canvas 40.8 x 45.6 cmc1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain
pencil 24 x 31 cmc1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain
pencil 23.1 x 34 cmc1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain
pencil, squared 26.7 x 31.8 cmc1931 Ballet Rehearsal – study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain
watercolour, pen and ink 26.5 x 37.5 cm c1931 Boy Wearing a Sun-Hat
oil on canvas 42.5 x 32.2 cmc1931 The Try-on – study for Dressmakers
pencil 22 x 17 cmc1931 The Try-on – study for Dressmakers
pencil 25.4 x 20.3 cmc1931 Dressmakers
oil on canvas 50 x 40 cmc1931 Les Routiers
oil on canvas 101.7 x 76.3 cm
Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK1932 Professor Frederick James Dykes
pencil on paper 45.9 x 31.8 cmc1932 Maynard Keynes
study red chalk, squared 23 x 18 cmc1932 Lydia Keynes
pencil on paper 42.5 x 32.5 cm c1932 Maynard and Lydia Keynes
red chalk 17.2 x 22.8 cmc1932 John Maynard Keynes and Lydia Keynes
oil on canvas 72.4 x 81.6 cmc1932 Sarah with Stiff Collar
pencil 36.5 x 26 cm1933 The Judgement of Paris
pencil, squared 10.2 x 12.7 cm1933 The Judgement of Paris
pencil, squared 29.5 x 28 cm1933 The Judgement of Paris
oil on canvas 40.5 x 52 cm1933 The Park Bench
pencil, squared 22.4 x 28 cm1933 The Park Bench
pencil and gouache 23.5 x 28 cm1933 Water Wings study pencil, squared
15.9 x 19.7 cm1933 Water Wings
oil on canvas 40.5 x 51 cmc1933 Portrait of May Berry
oil on canvas 55.6 x 45.5 cm1934 Hanging a Masterpiece study
black conté crayon 14.1 x 16.3 cm1934 Hanging a Masterpiece study, squared, pencil
29 3 x 25.4 cm1934 Hanging a Masterpiece
pencil and watercolour 35 x 43 cm1934 Mediterranean Folk
pencil, squared 16.2 x 21.4 cm1934 Mediterranean Folk
oil on canvas 33 x 43 cmMediterranean Folk
oil on canvas 33 x 43 cm1934 No! No! Roger, Cézanne did not use it
pencil, squared 17.8 x 26.9 cm1934 No! No! Roger, Cézanne did not use it
watercolour 35.6 x 43.2 cm1934 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle
study, pencil 21.8 x 16.4 cm1934 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle
gouache 27.9 x 19.1 cm1834 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle
oil on canvas 43.5 x 33.3 cm1934 Spanish Beggars study, pencil, squared
13 x 9.5 cm1934 Spanish Beggars
watercolour over pencil 25 x 19 cm19343 Spanish Beggars
oil on canvas 49.5 x 40 cm
