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| 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:
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| c1930 Sawing Wood graphite on paper 10.8 x 15.2 cm Tate Gallery, London |
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| c1930 Sawing Wood oil on canvas 48 x 63 cm |
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| c1930 The German Prisoner black chalk 19.6 x 12.4 cm |
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| c1930 The German Prisoner frontispiece to James Hanley’s “The German Prisoner” ink |
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| 1931 Les Routiers pencil, squared 25.5 x 19 cm |
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| 1931 Les Routiers oil on canvas 101 x 76.3 cm |
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| 1931 Sun-Bathing – study pencil, squared 16.5 x 20 cm |
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| 1931 Sun-Bathing pencil, squared in red ink 23.5 x 28.6 cm |
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| 1931 Sun-Bathers watercolour and pencil 25.5 x 35.6 cm |
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| c1931-32 At the Ballet – study for The Ballet black chalk and pencil 12 x 12.5 cm |
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| c1931 The Ballet pencil, lightly squared 17.8 x 19.7 cm |
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| c1931 The Ballet oil on canvas 40.8 x 45.6 cm |
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| c1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain pencil 24 x 31 cm |
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| c1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain pencil 23.1 x 34 cm |
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| c1931 Ballet Rehearsal, study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain pencil, squared 26.7 x 31.8 cm |
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| c1931 Ballet Rehearsal – study for Camargo Ballet drop curtain watercolour, pen and ink 26.5 x 37.5 cm |
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| c1931 Boy Wearing a Sun-Hat oil on canvas 42.5 x 32.2 cm |
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| c1931 The Try-on – study for Dressmakers pencil 22 x 17 cm |
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| c1931 The Try-on – study for Dressmakers pencil 25.4 x 20.3 cm |
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| c1931 Dressmakers oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm |
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| c1931 Les Routiers oil on canvas 101.7 x 76.3 cm Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK |
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| 1932 Professor Frederick James Dykes pencil on paper 45.9 x 31.8 cm |
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| c1932 Maynard Keynes study red chalk, squared 23 x 18 cm |
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| c1932 Lydia Keynes pencil on paper 42.5 x 32.5 cm |
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| c1932 Maynard and Lydia Keynes red chalk 17.2 x 22.8 cm |
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| c1932 John Maynard Keynes and Lydia Keynes oil on canvas 72.4 x 81.6 cm |
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| c1932 Sarah with Stiff Collar pencil 36.5 x 26 cm |
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| 1933 The Judgement of Paris pencil, squared 10.2 x 12.7 cm |
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| 1933 The Judgement of Paris pencil, squared 29.5 x 28 cm |
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| 1933 The Judgement of Paris oil on canvas 40.5 x 52 cm |
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| 1933 The Park Bench pencil, squared 22.4 x 28 cm |
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| 1933 The Park Bench pencil and gouache 23.5 x 28 cm |
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| 1933 Water Wings study pencil, squared 15.9 x 19.7 cm |
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| 1933 Water Wings oil on canvas 40.5 x 51 cm |
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| c1933 Portrait of May Berry oil on canvas 55.6 x 45.5 cm |
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| 1934 Hanging a Masterpiece study black conté crayon 14.1 x 16.3 cm |
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| 1934 Hanging a Masterpiece study, squared, pencil 29 3 x 25.4 cm |
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| 1934 Hanging a Masterpiece pencil and watercolour 35 x 43 cm |
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| 1934 Mediterranean Folk pencil, squared 16.2 x 21.4 cm |
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| 1934 Mediterranean Folk oil on canvas 33 x 43 cm |
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| Mediterranean Folk oil on canvas 33 x 43 cm |
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| 1934 No! No! Roger, Cézanne did not use it pencil, squared 17.8 x 26.9 cm |
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| 1934 No! No! Roger, Cézanne did not use it watercolour 35.6 x 43.2 cm |
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| 1934 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle study, pencil 21.8 x 16.4 cm |
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| 1934 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle gouache 27.9 x 19.1 cm |
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| 1834 Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle oil on canvas 43.5 x 33.3 cm |
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| 1934 Spanish Beggars study, pencil, squared 13 x 9.5 cm |
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| 1934 Spanish Beggars watercolour over pencil 25 x 19 cm |
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| 19343 Spanish Beggars oil on canvas 49.5 x 40 cm |