AN ENGLISH CUBIST

WILLIAM ROBERTS:

News

Illustrations © The Estate of John David Roberts.

The News (aka Public Library), 1941

[Last revised 19 December 2025]

William Roberts at auction

The Mellors & Kirk fine art, antiques and collectors sale on 13 January will include, WR's watercolour The Beach c.1957 (estimate £4,000–£6,000):

The Beach, c.1957

In the Bonhams online sale of modern British and Irish art on 17–26 November, WR's study for Germans in Constantinople 1916 was unsold (estimate £6,000–£8,000):

Germans in Constantinople – study, 1916

In the Bonhams Knightsbridge sale of modern British and Irish art on 16 July, WR's watercolour The Swing from c.1942 was unsold (estimate £5,000–£7,000):

The Swing, c.1942

In the Bonhams sale of modern British and Irish art on 18 June, WR's studies for Germans in Constantinople 1916 (estimate £10,000–£15,000) and for The Something Road Group c. 1956 (estimate £7,000–£10,000) did not find buyers:

Germans in Constantinople – study, 1916

The Something Road Group (aka Red Slippers), c.1956

In Christie's sale of modern British and Irish art on 20 March, WR's watercolour The Recital c.1944–5 sold for £13,860:

The Recital, c.1944–5

In the Dreweatts sale of modern and contemporay art on 12 March, WR's 1977 drawing Tree Cutters sold for £1,837:

Tree Cutters, 1977

New exhibitions featuring William Roberts

The following works by Roberts are on show in public galleries in the UK:

• The Gas Chamber 1918 is on show at the Imperial War Museum, London.
• The Diners 1919 is on show as part of the 'Media Networks: Modern Times' display at Tate Modern (level 4).
• The Cinema 1920 is on show in the 'Walk through British Art' display at Tate Britain.

The Cinema, 1920

• The Happy Family 1924 is on show at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth.
• Dressmakers c.1931 is on show at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.
• Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple 1925 is believed to be on display at the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull.
• John Maynard Keynes and Lydia Lopokova 1932 and Helen (aka Helen Brook) c.1934 are on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
• The Family 1934 is believed to be on display at Leeds Art Gallery.
• Fishermen 1968 is show at the Gibberd Gallery, Harlow.

The information above is believed to be accurate, but it would probably be worth checking with the galleries before making a special trip to any of them. Please click here for a list of other works by Roberts in public collections, which can usually be viewed by appointment.

Virtual exhibitions

The old Gallery page on this website has been replaced by a new page containing links to a selection of virtual exhibitions of works by Roberts on specific themes: Some Early and Cubist Work: 1913–16, The Art World, Music and Dance, Family Life, Telling Stories (narrative pictures), Sport and Recreation, The Life on the Streets, Portraits, and An Artist and His Family.