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| Self-Portrait 1970 pencil 33 x 25 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 14 of a 20-part series on the works of William Roberts:
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| 1956 Study for ‘The Vorticist Whale’ frontispiece to ‘The Resurrection of Vorticism’ by William Roberts ink on paper 18.4 x 11.4 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1956 The Boat Pond study pencil, squared 18.5 x 13 cm |
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| 1956 The Boat Pond chalk & watercolour, squared 55.3 x 37.8 cm The Higgins Bedford, UK |
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| 1956 Winter pen and ink 18.9 x 13.3 cm |
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| 1956-57 The Powder Puff Referee study pencil 17 x 13.5 cm |
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| 1956-57 The Powder Puff Referee chalk and watercolour 47 x 35 cm |
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| c1956-57 Summer Night study pencil, squared 12.1 x 17.8 cm |
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| c1956-57 Summer Night pencil, watercolour and charcoal 36 x 52.5 cm |
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| c1956-57 The Springboard pencil and watercolour 50 x 35 cm |
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| c1956-57 Under the Trees study pencil, squared 17.8 x 12.1 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1956-57 Under the Trees watercolour with black and coloured chalks 51 x 34 cm |
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| c1956 Study for frontispiece to ‘A Press View at the Tate Gallery' ink and graphite on paper 19.1 x 12.4 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1956 The Something Road Group pencil and watercolour 37 x 55.9 cm |
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| 1957 Heatwave pencil and watercolour 50.8 x 35.6 cm |
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| 1957 Playmates pencil and watercolour, squared 51.5 x 36.5 cm |
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| 1957 The Mannequins pen and ink 17 x 12 cm |
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| 1957 The Request Stop (aka Bus Queue) black chalk and watercolour 48.3 x 33.0 cm |
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| 1957-58 The Hungry Birds study pencil, squared 21 x 12 cm |
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| 1957-58 The Hungry Birds watercolour and pencil squared 42.6 x 22.8 cm |
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| 1957-58 The Hungry Birds oil on canvas 167.6 x 91.4 cm |
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| c1957 Study for ‘Bus Stop’ pencil on paper 17.8 x 8.9 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1957 Study for ‘Bus Stop’ pencil on paper 18 x 13 cm |
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| c1957 Bus Stop watercolour and coloured chalks 53.3 x 25.4 cm |
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| c1957 Couple reclining by the Thames pencil and watercolour 34.9 x 53.3 cm |
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| c1957 Drums black and white chalks, pencil and watercolour 49.5 x 36 cm |
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| c1957 The Beach study pencil, squared 13.5 x 18.8 cm |
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| c1957 The Beach watercolour and pencil 34.5 x 48 cm |
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| c1957 The Drum study, pencil squared 18 x 12.5 cm |
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| c1957 The Drum chalk and watercolour 50.5 x 36 cm |
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| c1957 The Tailors Workshop watercolour and black chalk 45.5 x 31.5 cm |
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| 1958 Keeper of the Apes study pencil, squared 18.5 x 13 cm |
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| 1958 Keeper of the Apes pen and watercolour 34.5 cm x 25 cm |
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| 1958 The Cockatoos oil on canvas 81.3 x 50.8 cm Tate Gallery. London |
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| 1958-59 Trooping the Colour study pencil, squared 30.5 x 46.3 cm |
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| 1958-59 Trooping the Colour watercolour study 20.5 x 30.2 cm |
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| 1958-59 Trooping the Colour oil on canvas 182.9 x 274.3 cm |
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| c1958 A Vorticist at the Hotel de la Tour Eiffel’ grahite on paper 17.5 x 13.3 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| A Vorticist at the Hotel de la Tour Eiffel by William Roberts pen and black ink 22.8 x 17.7 cm |
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| c1958 Across the Counter study pencil, squared 18.5 x 13 cm |
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| c1958 Across the Counter pencil and watercolour 35.6 x 22.9 cm |
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| c1958 Leah Kramer pencil 33.5 x 15 cm |
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| c1958 Sarah with Pigeon oil on canvas 50.7 x 41.6 cm |
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| 1959 Baseball Players study pencil, squared 19 x 14 cm |
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| 1959 Baseball Players pencil and watercolour 34.5 x 28 cm |
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| 1959 Sidney James Barton Chairman of London County Council (1959-60) pencil 32 x 24 cm |
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| 1959 Sidney James Barton oil on canvas 91 x 71 cm Guildhall Art Gallery, London |
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