Friday, 7 August 2026

William Roberts - part 18

Self-Portrait 1977
pencil  30.5 x 22 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 18 of a 20-part series on the works of William Roberts:

c1970 The Party study
pencil and watercolour, squared 15.9 x 19.7 cm

c1970 The Party
oil on canvas 61.5 x 76.5 cm

1971 Dog Lovers
oil on canvas 75 x 55 cm

1971 Not Guilty
watercolour (size not given)

1971 Rush Hour study
pencil and watercolour, squared 40 x 30.5 cm

1971 The Boatmen study
pencil, squared 18.7 x 12.8 cm

1971 The Boatmen
watercolour, bodycolour and pencil 50.8 x 33.0 cm

1971 The Doorstep study
pencil, squared 19 x 14 cm

1971 The Doorstep
pencil and watercolour 47 x 27.9 cm

1971 The Family
pencil (and watercolour?) on paper 47 x 27.9 cm
Tate Gallery, London

1971 The Party
oil on canvas 61 x 76.2 cm
The Ingram Collection, London

1971 The Winner study
pencil, squared 13.3 x 17.2 cm

1971 The Winner
pencil and watercolour 46.7 x 49 cm

1972 Ennui sudy
pencil and watercolour, squared 18.1 x 13 cm

1972 Ennui
oil on canvas 70.5 x 50.5 cm

1972 Life Class study
pencil, squared 12.5 x 16.5 cm

1972 Life Class study
pencil and watercolour, squared 36 x 46.5 cm

1972 On the Wire study
pencil on paper 19.1 x 14.6 cm
Tate Gallery, London

1972 On the Wire
pencil, charcoal and watercolour 46.9 x 36.8 cm

1972 The Swans study
pencil, crayon and watercolour, squared 19 x 1.5 cm

1972 The Swans
oil on canvas 76.2 x 61 cm

1972 Tiddler Fishing
oil on canvas 91.4 x 76.2 cm

1972 Tree Pruners study
pencil, squared 19 x 13.3 cm

1972 Tree Pruners
pencil and watercolour 40 x 30 cm

1973 Alarm
oil on canvas 61 x 57 cm

1973 Bath-Night
oil on canvas 61 x 76.2 cm

1973 Feeding the Seagulls study
pencil, watercolour and gouache, squared 17.5 x 14.9 cm

1973 Feeding the Seagulls
oil on canvas 77 x 66 cm

1973 The Divine Bottle study
pencil, squared 12.7 x 15.2 cm

1973 The Divine Bottle
 oil on canvas 62.5 x 75 cm

1973 The Art Gallery study
pencil and watercolour, squared 15.2 x 17.8 cm

1973 The Art Gallery
oil on canvas 48.9 x 59.1 cm
Tate Gallery, London

1973 Tiddlers study
pencil, crayon and watercolour, squared 18.5c x 14.0 cm

1974 Tiddlers
oil on canvas 76.5 x 64 cm

1974 Beauty Queens study
pencil & watercolour on paper, squared 12.7 x 15.9 cm
The Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art, London

1974  Beauty Queens
oil on canvas 41 x 51 cm
The Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art, London

1974 Feeding the Seagulls
oil on canvas 77 x 66 cm
Reading Museum, UK

1974 In the Park study
pencil and watercolour, squared 31.2 x 44 cm

1974 Siesta study
pencil and watercolour, squared 14 x 17.1 cm

1974 Siesta
oil on canvas 40 x 50.5 cm

1974 The Beggars study
pencil, squared 29.3 x 15.2 cm

1974 The Beggars
pencil and watercolour 47.0 x 27.9 cm

1974 The Model study
watercolour and pencil squared (size not given)

1974 The Pet
oil on canvas 50.8 x 40.8 cm


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