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| Self-Portrait 1948 with a Paint Brush oil on canvas 51 x 41 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 7 of a 20-part series on the works of William Roberts:
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| 1928 Study for ‘The Pigeon Fanciers’ graphite on paper 20.3 x 17.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1928 Pigeon Fanciers pencil and watercolour 66 x 59 cm |
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| The Paddock (Jockeys) pencil and watercolour 41 x 32 cm |
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| 1927 The Paddock (Jockeys) oil on canvas 122.5 x 92.5 cm Bradford Museums and Galleries, UK |
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| 1928 Study for ‘The Tea Garden’ graphite on paper 20.7 x 28 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1928 Study for ‘The Tea Garden’ pencil |
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| 1928 The Tea Garden oil on canvas 51 x 61 cm |
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| c1928 French Peasants, Workmen and Farm Workers pencil and watercolour 19.3 x 11.4 cm |
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| 1928-29 Bath-Night pencil, squared 14 x 17.5 cm |
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| 1928-29 Bath-Night watercolour, pencil and gouache 28.5 x 38 cm |
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| 1928-35 Bath Time (The Miner's Toilet and Wash Night) oil on canvas 39 x 49 cm Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, UK |
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| 1929 Portrait of an American (aka William Wallace) oil on canvas 51 x 41 cm |
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| 1929 Study for ‘Feeding Gulls’ charcoal and chalk on paper 21 x 17.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1929 Feeding Gulls pencil and wash 43 x 35 cm |
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| 1929 The Restaurant study pencil, squared 18 x 8 cm |
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| 1929 The Restaurant pencil and watercolour, squared 25 x 20 cm |
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| 1929 The Restaurant oil on canvas 50.5 x 40.5 cm |
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| 1929-30 The Chess Players study black chalk 20 x 12.5 cm |
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| 1929-30 The Chess Players pencil 26.7 x 24.1 cm |
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| 1929-30 The Chess Players pen and ink and watercolour 35.5 x 25.5 cm |
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| 1929-30 The Chess Players oil on canvas 101.5 x 92 cm |
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| c1929 Antony and Cleopatra study pencil 19.7 x 23.5 cm |
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| c1929 Antony and Cleopatra oil on canvas 50.8 x 61 cm |
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| c1929 Study for ‘Beach Fun’ graphite on paper 12.7 x 10.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1929 Beach Fun oil on canvas (size not given) |
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| c1929 Portrait of a Boy (aka John and Boy in a Blue Jersey) oil on canvas 69 x 60 cm |
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| c1929 The Pleasure Barge (Have a Ride) pencil, ink and red crayon 21.6 x 31.1 cm |
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| c1929 The Pleasure Barge (Have a Ride) details not given |
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| c1929 The Swimming Lesson pencil, squared 12.7 x 10.2 cm |
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| c1929 The Swimming Lesson watercolour, ink, chalk and charcoal, squared 25.5 x 17.5 cm |
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| c1929 The Swimming Lesson oil on canvas 51 x 41 cm |
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| 1930 Study for ‘Going for a Swim’ charcoal on paper 17.8 x 23.5 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| 1930 Study for ‘Going for Swim’ black chalk 24 x 18.5 cm |
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| 1930 Study for ‘Going for a swim’ pencil. squared for transfer 22.9 x 17.8 cm |
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| 1930 Going for a Swim pencil and gouache 23.5 x 19 cm |
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| 1930 Going for a Swim oil on canvas 50 x 39.5 cm |
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| 1930 John Roberts oil on canvas 49 x 38 cm Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
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| 1930 The Schoolboy aka Paul Rimmer – Friend of John oil on canvas 43.5 x 33 cm |
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| 1930 The Schoolboy oil on canvas 43.5 x 33 cm |
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| c1930-32 The Artist's Son John oil on canvas 43 x 33 cm |
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| c1930 Ada Caplan oil on canvas 29.5 x 26.3 cm |
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| c1930 Butcher's Man graphite on paper 26.7 x 19.1 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1930 John with a Caterpillar red chalk on paper 34 x 28 cm |
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| c1930 Portrait of a Schoolboy oil on canvas 43.2 x 33 cm |
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| c1930 Portrait of a Schoolboy with Braces oil on canvas 43.2 x 33 cm |
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| c1930 Primrose Hill pencil 38.6 x 56.2 cm |
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| c1930 Primrose Hill pencil and watercolour 22.9 x 30.0 cm |
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| c1930 Primrose Hill pencil, colour wash and watercolour 38 x 56 cm |
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| c1930 Primrose Hill oil on canvas 105.5 x 132 cm |
