AN ENGLISH CUBIST




William Roberts at Auction




Some recent results. Auction prices given are generally as quoted by the auction house concerned, and may not include all fees and taxes, such as VAT and Artist's Resale Right charges.

20 January 2024
Cooper Barrington LLP, Wrexham: Portrait of Miss Joan O'Connell (red chalk, 1940), £122
20 December 2023
Wiederseim Associates, Inc., Phoenixville, PA: The Tip (pencil and watercolour, 1944–5), $1,875
9 December 2023
Cooper Barrington LLP, Wrexham: Portrait of Miss Joan O'Connell (red chalk, 1940), estimate £200–£300; unsold
22 November 2023
Bonhams: Portrait of Sarah (oil on canvas, 1925–9), estimate £10,000–£15,000; unsold
Parson's Pleasure (oil on canvas, c.1944), estimate £100,000–£150,000; unsold
Dream of Dancing Women (oil on canvas, 1978), £10,240
11 November 2023
Cooper Barrington LLP, Wrexham: Portrait of Miss Joan O'Connell (red chalk, 1940), estimate £600–£800; unsold
27 October 2023
Lyon & Turnbull: The Swans – study (pencil, crayon and watercolour, 1972), £4,032
Tiddlers – study (pencil, crayon and watercolour, 1973), £3,780
19 October 2023
Christie's: Miming (oil on canvas, 1979), £25,200
13 October 2023
Dreweatts: Male Life Study, Standing (pencil, 1940), £341
18 August 2023
Dreweatts: Male Life Study, Standing (pencil, 1940), estimate £300–£500; unsold
11 July 2023
Dreweatts: Male Life Study, Standing (pencil, 1940), estimate £600–£800; unsold
22 March 2023
Bonhams: Woman Picking Nuts (pen and ink, c.1953), £8,287.50
22 March 2023
Christie's: The Dove – study (pencil and watercolour, 1961), £12,600
By the Seaside (oil on canvas, 1977), estimate £30,000–£50,000; unsold
21 March 2023
Christie's: St George and the Dragon – study (pencil, 1915), £239,400
23 November 2022
Sotheby's: The Interval (pencil and black chalk, 1923), £529,200
22 November 2022
Bonhams: Swan Upping (watercolour and pencil, c.1925), £15,300
The Punters (oil on canvas, c.1943), £176,700
The Amateur and the Professional (pencil and watercolour, 1973), estimate £30,000–£50,000; unsold
20 October 2022
Christie's: Marking the Pose (watercolour over black chalk, 1952), £23,940
The Vaulting Horse – study (pencil and watercolour, 1974) £18,900
The Swimmers (oil on canvas, 1978), £32,760
19 October 2022
Dreweatts: The Grandchild – study (pencil and watercolour, 1973), estimate £6,000–£8,000; unsold
Family at Play (pencil and watercolour, 1977), £5,850
The Pipers – study (pencil and watercolour, 1977), £11,050
16–23 September 2022
Sotheby's (online sale): Setting the Pose (pencil and watercolour, c.1957), £10,080
22 June 2022
Bonhams: Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle – study (gouache, 1934), £57,000
25 May 2022
Golding Young, Lincoln: Female Life Study, Sitting (incomplete), (pencil, 1956), £280+fees
29 April 2022
Duke's Fine Art Auctions: Female Life Study, Sitting, (pencil and watercolour, date uncertain), £360+fees
24 November 2021
Bonhams: In the Park (oil on canvas, c.1925), £162,750
18–24 November 2021
Sotheby's (online sale): Dream of Dancing Women (oil on canvas, 1978), estimate £30,000–£50,000; unsold
21 October 2021
Christie's: Second Defence System (pencil, coloured chalk and watercolour, 1918–19), £30,000
Going to Swim – study (pencil, 1930), £15,000
30 June 2021
Bonhams: Classical Scene (red chalk, c.1920), £12,112
A London Family's First Visit to the Country (pencil and gouache, 1920), £21,500
The Shoe-shop – study (pencil and watercolour, c.1954), £16,500
Self-portrait (pencil, 1973), £10,200
30 June 2021
Sotheby's: The Soldier's Dream (oil on canvas, 1972), £60,480
25 May 2021
Roseberys London: The Dressing Room (pen, black ink, black chalk and watercolour, 1966), £31,200
18 May 2021
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers: Bacchanal (red chalk, c.1908), £2,860
9–16 March 2021
Sotheby's (online sale): John with a Caterpillar (red chalk, c.1930), £37,800
18 November 2020
Bonhams: Women Playing with Cats (ink and watercolour, c.1919?), £325,250
Munitions Factory – study (pencil and watercolour, 1940), £200,250
16 November 2020
AAG Auctioneers, Amsterdam: Portrait Study of a Young Man (red chalk, c.1920), €2,850
23 October 2020
Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne: The Flying Dutchman (pencil, pen and ink, c.1915), £3,250
29 September 2020
Christie's: The Sailor's Return – study (pencil, crayon and watercolour, 1948), £5,000
20–30 July 2020
Sotheby's (online sale): Self Service (oil on canvas, 1978), estimate £30,000–£50,000; unsold
26 June–14 July 2020
Christie's (online sale): Gas Alert (pencil and watercolour, 1919), £18,750
21–2 January 2020
Christie's: The Wiring Party (red chalk with grey wash, 1918–19), £395,250
TV – study (pencil and watercolour, 1960), £30,000
Gossips (oil on canvas, 1968), £60,000
10 September 2019
Sotheby's: The Swimming Lesson (aka The Swimming Bath) (watercolour, ink, chalk and charcoal, c.1929) £27,500
28 June 2019
Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers, Stratford-upon-Avon: Self Service (oil on canvas, 1978), £10.483
17–18 June 2019
Christie's: Goal (oil on canvas, c.1968), estimate £300,000–£500,000; unsold
Deposition from the Cross – study (pencil, ink and red chalk, c.1926), £32,500
12 June 2019
Bonhams: Spanish Rhythm – study (watercolour and pencil, 1946–9), £10,062
9 April 2019
Christie's: Making Beds (pencil and watercolour, 1963), £30,000
12 March 2019
Gorringe's: Female Life Study, Sitting, Three-quarter Front, Upper Body (pencil, 1927–8), £750
15 January 2019
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers: Gypsies (pencil and watercolour, 1977), £5,200
7 December 2018
Mallams, Oxford: Chamber Music – study (pencil, 1937), £4,712
4 December 2018
Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury: Gas Alert (pencil and watercolour, 1919), estimate £20,000–£30,000; unsold
20 November 2018
Christie's: The Dancing Bear (watercolour and pencil, 1970), £20,000
Sotheby's: The Joke (oil on canvas, 1923), £994,000
26 September 2018
Roseberys London: Female and male life studies in shared mount (pencil on paper (two sheets, torn)), estimate £600–£800; unsold
20 June 2018
Christie's: Jockeys Mounting (pencil and watercolour, c.1949), £56,250
13 June 2018
Bonhams: Dominoes (pen and ink, c.1915), £12,500
Demolition Squad – study (pencil and watercolour, 1941), £125,000
12–13 June 2018
Sotheby's: The Barber's Shop (oil on canvas, c.1946), £406,000
The War Baby – study (pencil, watercolour and crayon, 1946), £15,000
Day Out on the River (oil on canvas, 1978), estimate £60,000–£80,000; unsold
21 March 2018
Christie's: Portrait of May Berry (oil on canvas, c.1933), £12,500
Self-portrait (pencil, 1968), £11,875
20 March 2018
Sotheby's: The Choir – study (pencil, 1962), £10,000
29 November 2017
Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury: The Rape of the Sabine Women – study (pencil and watercolour, 1955), £35,392
22 November 2017
Bonhams: Billingsgate (pen, ink and chalk, 1913), £162,500
27 June 2017
Christie's: Sarah, the Artist's Wife (red chalk, 1927), £7,500
Saloon Bar (pencil and watercolour, c.1944), £106,250
26 June 2017
Christie's: The Walking Delegates (pen, black ink and watercolour, 1919), £100,000
14 June 2017
Bonhams: Making the Bed (pencil, c.1963), £6,000
The Fountain (pencil and watercolour, 1967), £32,500
12 June 2017
Sotheby's: The Tea Garden (oil on canvas, 1928), £848,750
23 March 2017
Christie's, South Kensington: Christopher Milford (oil on canvas, c.1944), £21,250
The Fountain (oil on canvas, 1967), £137,000
2–13 December 2016
Christie's (online sale): A. E. Coppard (pencil, 1927), £10,625
23–24 November 2016
Christie's: The Leave Train (pencil and wash, 1916), £377,000
The Swans (oil on canvas, 1972), £43,750
Life Class (oil on canvas, 1976), £37,500
22–23 November 2016
Sotheby's: The Harem (watercolour and pencil, c.1916), £93,750
Pollarding (pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal and watercolour, 1944–6), £21,250
Bicycle Lesson (oil on canvas, 1964), £68,750
25 July 2016
Whyte's, Dublin: Crabs (pencil, c.1958), €2,100
14 July 2016
Christie's, South Kensington: Masks – study (pencil, watercolour and gouache, c.1932), £20,000
The Acrobats (pencil and watercolour, 1940–59), £7,500)
The Bonfire (pencil, watercolour and gouache, 1966–7), £7,500
The Swings – study (pencil, watercolour and gouache, 1967–8), £8,750
30 June 2016
Christie's: Primrose Hill (oil on canvas, c.1930), £818,500
21 June 2016
Christie's: Bath-night – study (watercolour, pencil and gouache, 1929), £74,500
20 June 2016
Christie's: War Celebrations (pen, pencil, ink and watercolour, 1919), £434,500
14 June 2016
Sotheby's: British Military Cemetery (pencil, gouache and watercolour, 1918), £33,750
10 December 2015
Christie's, South Kensington: The Shoe-shop – study (pencil, 1957), £4,375
18 November 2015
Bonhams: The Rape of the Sabines (oil on canvas, 1955–6), £122,500
17 November 2015
Sotheby's: The Errand Boys (oil on canvas, 1939), £485,000
15 July 2015
Christie's, South Kensington: Feeding the Seagulls (pencil, watercolour and gouache, 1973–4), £22,500
Beauty Queens – study (pencil and watercolour, 1974), £17,500
25 June 2015
Christie's: A Demonstration (pencil, ink and watercolour, c.1919–20), £62,500
10 June 2015
Sotheby's: Mediterranean Folk (pencil, watercolour and gouache, 1934), £32,500
19 March 2015
Christie's, South Kensington: Evening in Oban (pen, ink and watercolour, c.1946), estimate £15,000–£25,000; unsold
16 September 2014
Bonhams: The Dancing Bear (pencil and watercolour, 1970), £18,750
26 June 2014
Christie's: Swimmers Resting (oil on canvas c.1925), £48,750
10 April 2014
Duke's, Dorchester: Gas Alert (pencil and watercolour, 1919), £27,808
10–11 December 2013
Sotheby's: The Wimpy Bar (oil on canvas, 1975), £56,250
Collecting Birds Eggs (pencil and watercolour, 1968), £16,250
10 December 2013
Holloway's, Banbury: Fred (oil on canvas, 1920–23), £6,200
20 November 2013
Christie's: The Cockneys – study (red chalk, c.1919) £43,750
The Bowling Alley (oil on canvas, 1927–8) £242,500
16 October 2013
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers: Self-portrait (etching, c.1925), £1,550 Book Cover, for Roberts, Some Early Abstract and Cubist Work (pen and ink, 1957), £1,550 Self-portrait (pencil and watercolour, c.1970), £3,224
12 July 2013
Sotheby's: The Artist and His Wife (oil on canvas, 1942–3), £35,000
Trafalgar Square – study (watercolour, 1952), £37,500
10–11 July 2013
Christie's: The Birth of Venus (oil on canvas, 1954), £85,875
At the Fair, Hampstead Heath (oil on canvas, mounted on board, 1950), estimate £25,000–£35,000; unsold
2 May 2013
Cheffins Fine Art, Cambridge: A Fantastic Ballet (pen, ink and wash, 1920), £64,168
25 February 2013
Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris: The Party (oil on canvas, 1971), estimate €40,000–€60,000; unsold
14 December 2012
Christie's, South Kensington: Skittle Alley (pencil and watercolour, c.1927), £7,500
12–13 December 2012
Christie's: The Poor Family (oil on canvas, c.1921–3), estimate £200,000–£300,000; unsold
Mahomet's Ride (oil on canvas, c.1967), £73,250
14 November 2012
Bonhams: Evening in Oban (pen, ink and watercolour, c.1946), estimate £20,000–£30,000; unsold

Sotheby's: Checkmate (pen and ink and watercolour, 1929–30), £94,850
23–24 May 2012
Christie's: Masked Revels (oil on canvas, 1953), £181,250
Parallel Bars (pencil and watercolour, 1970), £21,875
10–11 May 2012
Sotheby's: Boxers (pencil, pen and ink, and collage, 1914), £229,250
The Chess Players (oil on canvas, 1929–30), £1,161,250
In the Straight (pencil and watercolour, c.1949), £67,250
Day Out on the River (oil on canvas, 1978), £58,850
22 March 2012
Christie's, South Kensington: The Flying Dutchman (pencil, pen and ink, c.1915), estimate £3,000–£5,000; unsold
26 January 2012
Bloomsbury Auctions: Woman and Dog – study (pencil, 1939), £950
16 November 2011
Sotheby's: Bath-night (watercolour, pencil and gouache, 1929), £19,375
The Judgement of Paris (pencil, 1933), £18,750
15 November 2011
Sotheby's: The Barber's Shop (oil on canvas, c.1946), £127,250
The Boxing Match (oil on canvas, c.1925–7?), £217,250
25 October 2011
Christie's, South Kensington: Major E. O. Kay (pencil, c.1935), £2,125
16 June 2011
Sotheby's: Dogs of the Beni Hillal (oil on canvas, 1925), £409,250
The Judgement of Paris (oil on canvas, 1933), £109,250
The Recorder Player (oil on canvas, 1935–6), £10,625
Spanish Rhythm (oil on canvas, 1946–9), £91,250
Women Bathing a Child (pencil and watercolour, 1939), £30,000
Artist and Wife (pencil and watercolour, 1940), £34,850
Windy Day (oil on canvas, 1941), £121,250
The Self-portrait (charcoal and watercolour, 1947), £18,125
Summer Night (pencil, watercolour and charcoal, c.1956–7), £44,450
15 June 2011
Sotheby's: Newspapers (oil on canvas, 1926), £169,250
The Restaurant (oil on canvas, 1929), £373,250
The Masks (oil on canvas, c.1932), £457,250
23 March 2011
Christie's, South Kensington: Rhys Davies (pencil, 1926), £3,000
T. F. Powys (pencil, 1926), £1,750
H. E. Bates (pencil, 1927), £2,875
9 March 2011
Bonhams: The Guitar Player (pencil, pen, ink and watercolour, c.1920), £93,600
25 January 2011
Bonhams: Snooker – study (pencil, 1968), £8,400
15 December 2010
Sotheby's: The Party (oil on canvas, 1971), £31,250
17 November 2010
Bonhams: The Pet (oil on canvas, 1974), £9,600
4 November 2010
Sotheby's: Portrait of the Artist (oil on canvas, 1948), £20,000
The Rhododendron (oil on canvas, 1947–8), £10,000
10 June 2010
Lyon & Turnbull: Portrait of Slade Model (aka Portrait of an Old Man) (oil on canvas, 1912), estimate £1,000–£1,500; unsold
26 May 2010
Sotheby's: The Swimming Lesson – study (watercolour and charcoal, c.1929, estimate £5,000–£7,000; unsold
18 May 2010
Dreweatts: By the Seaside (pencil and watercolour, 1970), £17,200
Trooping the Colour – study (pencil, 1958–9), £7,200
17 March 2010
Bonhams: The Pet (oil on canvas, 1974), estimate £12,000–£16,000; unsold
The Vigilantes (oil on canvas, 1974), £19,200
2 December 2009
Lyon & Turnbull: Portrait of Slade Model (aka Portrait of an Old Man) (oil on canvas, 1912), estimate £2,000–£4,000; unsold
18 November 2009
Bonhams: Spanish Dancers (pencil, 1935), £4,800
15 July 2009
Christie's, South Kensington: Portrait of a Schoolboy (oil on canvas, c.1930), estimate £4,000–£6,000; unsold
Portrait of a Schoolboy with Braces (oil on canvas, c.1930), estimate £4,000–£6,000; unsold
2 July 2009
Bloomsbury Auctions: Stretching Man (charcoal and blue crayon, c.1920s), £2,200
27 June 2009
Tirioche Auctions, Israel: Brass Balls (oil on canvas, 1922), $368,000
18 March 2009
Bonhams: The Gutter (pencil, 1934–5), £6,600
Snooker – study (pencil, 1968), estimate £2,000–£3,000; unsold
12 December 2008
Christie's, King Street: The Goats (oil on canvas, c.1966), estimate £25,000–£35,000; unsold
25 November 2008
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers: The Rehearsal (watercolour and pencil, c.1937), £5,800
19 November 2008
Sotheby's, Bond Street: Indolence (red pencil, black chalk and watercolour, 1945), estimate £6,000–£8,000; unsold
The Park Bench (oil on canvas, c.1934), £37,500
The Schoolboy (oil on canvas, 1930), £14,375
Tea Break (pencil and watercolour, c.1955–60), £22,500
13 November 2008
Bloomsbury Auctions: Trooping the Colour – study (pencil, 1958–9), estimate £6,000–£8,000; unsold
12 September 2008
Bonhams Knightsbridge: Bathers II (pencil and watercolour, 1942–4), £3,360
16 July 2008
Christie's, South Kensington: La Lucertola – study (pencil and watercolour, c.1963), £8,125
Researchers (pencil and watercolour, 1970), £8,750
15 July 2008
Sotheby's, Bond Street: Beauty Queens (oil on canvas, 1974), £22,500
15 July 2008
Christie's, South Kensington: Liam O'Flaherty (black and red chalk, 1926), £1,188
2 July 2008
Bonhams: Primrose Hill – study (watercolour and pencil, 1949–50), £14,400
Snooker (aka Billiard Players) (watercolour and pencil, c.1968), £12,000
8 May 2008
Bloomsbury Auctions: Study for The Crucifixion (crayon and wash, c.1922), estimate £12,000–£15,000; unsold
18 March 2008
Sotheby's, Bond Street: Portrait of Slade Model (aka Portrait of an Old Man) (oil on canvas, 1912), estimate £4,000–£6,000; unsold
Self-portrait (pencil, 1960), £4,375
13 December 2007
Sotheby's, Bond Street: The Guitarists (oil on canvas, 1975), £34,100
21 November 2007
Christie's, King Street: Demolition (pencil, 1970), estimate £2,500–£3,500; unsold
20 November 2007
Bonhams: The Goldfish Bowl (pen and ink, 1968), £2,160
16 November 2007
Christie's, King Street: The Something Road Group (aka Red Slippers) (pencil and watercolour, c.1956), £12,500
26 September 2007
Bonhams: Evening in Oban (pen, ink and watercolour, c.1946), £10,200
13 July 2007
Sotheby's, Bond Street: The Pleasure Barge (Have a Ride) (pencil, ink and red crayon, c.1929), £14,400
26 June 2007
Bonhams: La Femme Tragique (oil on canvas, c.1925), £27,600
3 May 2007
Bloomsbury Auctions: Girl Playing Guitar (aka Sarah with Guitar) – study (watercolour and pencil, c.1931?), £3,500
20 April 2007
Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne: Primrose Hill – study (watercolour and pencil, 1949–50), £7,000
6 March 2007
Bonhams: The Wagon Lines (pencil, c.1919), £3,600
Sleeping Girl (pencil and watercolour, c.1942), £2,640
11 December 2006 Sotheby's, Bond Street: The Dove (oil on canvas, 1961), £20,400
Ballet Rehearsal (aka Ballet Dancers) (watercolour, pen and ink, c.1931), £27,600
Swimmers Resting (oil on canvas c.1925), £36,000
28 November 2006 Bonhams: Trafalgar Square – study (watercolour, 1952), £12,000
6 November 2006
Sotheby's, Olympia: Faggot Collector (pencil and watercolour, c.1944), £1,020
11 July 2006
Bonhams: The Dancing Bear – study (watercolour and pencil, 1970), estimate £5,000–£7,000; unsold
1 March 2006
Christie's: The Isle of Lesbos (pencil, 1970), £1,560
Sailor's Farewell (watercolour and pencil, 1943–4), £3,360
Towards Better Health (pencil and watercolour, 1943), £2,400
29 November 2005
Bonhams: A Sacrifice in the Rain (pen, brush, brown wash and pencil, suggest 1916–17), estimate £4,000–£6,000; unsold
18 November 2005
Christie's: By the Seaside (pencil and watercolour, 1970), £10,200
Sunflowers – study (pencil and watercolour, c.1961), £9,360
10 March 2005 Sotheby's, Bond Street: Mahomet's Ride (oil on canvas, c.1967), £33,600




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