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| Self-Portrait c1926 pencil on paper 24.3 x 20.9 cm |
William Roberts 1895-1980: In the years before the First World War 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 5 of a 20-part series on the works of William Roberts:
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| c1923 The Poor Family graphite on paper 10.2 x 8.3 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1923 The Poor Family oil on canvas 50.8 x 41 cm |
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| 1924 Sarah with bent leg black chalk 34.5 x 20.5 cm |
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| 1924 Sarah in a Wicker Chair red and blue chalks 31.5 x 23.5 cm |
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| 1924 Oliver Brown pencil 42.5 x 26 cm |
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| 1924 Howitzer (aka Gun Team and The Gunners) oil on canvas 43 x 33 cm |
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| 1924 French Sailors on the Deck of a Ship (aka A Channel Crossing and French Sailors) pencil and watercolour 37.5 x 30 cm |
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| 1924 The Char pencil and watercolour |
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| 1923 The Char oil on canvas 43.2 x 33 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1924 The Happy Family sanguine chalk and pastel 12.7 x 10.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1924 The Happy Family oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm |
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| 1925 Sarah pencil on red paper 31.3 x 23.8 cm |
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| 1925 New Coterie No. 1 November 1925 magazine size 25.5 x 19 cm |
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| 1925 George Ambrose Lloyd (1st Baron Lloyd) oil on canvas 50.8 x 43.3 cm |
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| 1925 Esther Lahr oil on canvas 50.8 x 40.6 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1925 Dogs of the Beni Hillal – an Arabian Legend oil on canvas 40.5 x 36 cm |
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| 1925 Christ Driving the Moneychangers from the Temple oil on canvas 47.2 x 53.3 cm Ferens Art Gallery, Kingston upon Hull |
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| 1925 The Bathers red chalk 13.5 x 9.2 cm |
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| 1925 The Bathers oil on canvas 51 x 41 cm |
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| 1925 The Boat Pond – study black chalk 18.5 x 14 cm |
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| 1925 The Boat Pond – study pencil 18 x 13 cm |
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| 1925 The Boat Pond oil on canvas 120 x 90 cm |
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| 1925 The Dentist oil on canvas 69.5 x 59.5 cm County Hall, Leicestershire County Council Artworks Collection, Leicester, UK |
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| 1925-26 A Gipsy Girl oil on canvas 41.5 x 31.2 cm Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London |
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| 1925-26 Appeasing a Tumult pen and ink 28 x 19.5 cm |
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| c1925-26 Arab Feast graphite on paper 16.5 x 15.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1925-26 Spanish Melody pencil 26 x 36.2 cm |
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| c1925-26 Arab Feast graphite on paper 16.5 x 15.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1925-26 Spanish Melody pencil 26 x 36.2 cm |
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| The Dogs of Harith – study red chalk and pencil 28 x 23.5 cm |
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| The Dogs of Harith red ink and pencil 33.5 x 27.5 cm |
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| A Reluctant Shepherd pen and ink 28 x 19.5 cm |
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| As-hab ('Companions') pen and ink 28 x 20 cm |
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| Dhaif Allah pen and ink 38.1 x 28 cm |
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| Dignity, (figure on horseback with attendants) ink 36.5 x 28 cm |
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| Flashing Sword ink 28.4 x 19.7 cm |
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| Ibrahim Pasha pen and ink 30.5 x 25 cm |
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| Male and Female pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Mucking In pen and ink 28.5 x 20 cm |
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| Night Alarm pen and brush 21.6 x 21.6 cm |
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| Object Lesson pen and ink 30.5 x 24.5 cm |
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| Off Duty pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Revolt pen and ink 31 x 24.5 cm |
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| Songs of Selim el Jezairi pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Spine Drill pen and ink 28.5 x 20 cm |
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| Staff Conference pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Suppliants pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| The Oxford Manner pen and ink 28 x 19.5 cm |
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| The Valley of the Sirhan pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Torture pen and ink 28.5 x 19.5 cm |
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| Victory pen and ink 27 x 21 cm |
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