AN ENGLISH CUBIST

WILLIAM ROBERTS:

Art Dealers Hanging a Masterpiece
+ studies

Illustration © The Estate of John David Roberts. Reproduced with the permission of the William Roberts Society. Catalogue information based on the catalogue raisonné by David Cleall. For this and full details of the exhibitions cited, see the links below. Any auction prices quoted may not include all fees and taxes, such as VAT and Artist's Resale Right charges.

(recto) Art Dealers Hanging a Masterpiece (aka Hanging a Masterpiece – study), 1934
Black Conté crayon, 14.1 cm x 16.3 cm

(verso) Three Figures – study for the recto, 1934
Black Conté crayon, 10 cm x 8.8 cm

PROVENANCE: Estate of John David Roberts (held in Tate store, 2014).
EXHIBITION HISTORY: Gillian Jason Gallery (2) 1986, Gillian Jason Gallery 1990, Gillian Jason Gallery 1992

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Hanging a Masterpiece – study (aka Art Dealers Hanging a Masterpiece), 1934
Pencil, 20.3 cm x 25.4 cm

PROVENANCE: Estate of John David Roberts, accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to Tate 2007 (T12644)
EXHIBITION HISTORY: Reading 1983, Gillian Jason Gallery 1990, Gillian Jason Gallery 1992, Tate Britain 2012

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Hanging a Masterpiece, 1934
Pencil and watercolour, 35 cm x 43 cm

'Made as a satire on commercial art galleries, with particular reference to Alex. Reid & Lefevre [where Roberts exhibited in 1935 and 1938]. The sign in the background is inscribed "Lennui Galerie Peinture Moderne (French Only)", and the dealer is holding up a picture frame with the figures 33 1/3% [the gallery's commission rate]' – Tate Gallery 1965 catalogue. The kneeling figure may represent Tom Honeyman, whom Roberts dealt with at the gallery.
PROVENANCE: Wilfrid Evill (Mar. 1948, £25) > Miss Honor Frost (1963) > private collection, London (2011)
EXHIBITION HISTORY: Brighton 1965, Tate Gallery 1965

AN ENGLISH CUBIST

WILLIAM ROBERTS:

Art Dealers Hanging a Masterpiece + studies

Art Dealers Hanging a Masterpiece
+ studies