William Roberts RA,
British, 1895-1980 -
 
The Dressing Room, 1966;
 
pen,...

William Roberts RA,

British, 1895-1980 -

The Dressing Room, 1966;

pen, black ink, black chalk and watercolour on paper, squared, signed and dated 'William Roberts 66', 45.1 x 32.4 cm (ARR)

Provenance: Sotheby's, London, 14th March 1973; Christie's, London, 14th November 1975; Christie's, London 2nd March 1979; private collection, purchased from the above and thence by descent

Exhibited: Hamet Gallery, London, 1971; Lowell Libson Ltd, London, 2002

Note: this work is listed in the William Roberts Catalogue raisonné researched and compiled by David Cleall.

William Roberts was a pioneering British artist, developing his self-proclaimed English Cubist technique that combined naturalism with a modernist approach to form before the First World War. Roberts joined Roger Frys Omega Workshop, with Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, as well as exhibiting with the Vorticist group, formed by Wyndham Lewis and Edward Wadsworth.

The present lot is a fantastic example of the artists mature style, in its complex, colourful and humorous composition. In this works the artist focuses on the bustle of everyday life, creating a sense of energy and rhythm in this backstage look at a womens dressing room. The sculptural quality of the figures was also influenced by the work of Fernand Leger. A study for this piece, Beauty queens: Study for The Dressing Room is now in the Tate Collection. The 1960s was an important period in the artists career, that saw a major reappraisal of his work following a retrospective at the Tate in 1965.