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An image of Self portrait by Tom Roberts

Tom Roberts

(England, Australia 08 Mar 1856–14 Sep 1931)

Title
Self portrait
Other titles:
Self-portrait
Place of origin
Dandenongs → Victoria → Australia
Year
1924
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on canvas
Dimensions

61.2 x 51.0cm stretcher; 81.0 x 71.0 x 7.0cm frame

Signature & date
Signed and dated l.l. corner, red oil "Tom Roberts 24./ To the Trustees Sydney National Gallery".
Credit
Gift of the artist at the request of the Trustees 1924
Accession number
958
Location
Not on display
Further information

Tom Roberts (1856–1931) is best known for such large-scale paintings depicting Australia's pastoral life and labour as 'The golden fleece' and 'Bailed up'. Born in England, he migrated to Australia in 1868, working initially as a photographer. A leading figure with Arthur Streeton, Frederick McCubbin, Charles Conder and others in setting up outdoor painting camps on the outskirts of Melbourne, he was the key proponent of the Heidelberg school of Australian impressionism. Moving to Sydney in 1891, Roberts also travelled to regional New South Wales to paint a series of 'national' pastoral subjects. After a difficult period in Europe 1901–23, he returned to Australia, settling in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges.

Bibliography (24)

Anthony Horden & Son's (Compilator), Exhibition of oil paintings by Tom Roberts Jun 1926, Sydney, Jun 1926, cover (illus.). The work was featured on the cover of the catalogue for Anthony Horden & Sons Ltd. 'Exhibition of oil paintings by Tom Roberts'.

Edmund Capon and Ursula Prunster, Face to face: Australian portraits 1986, Sydney, 1986, (illus.). cat.no. 23

Louise Chamberlin, Art In Sight 1996, Sydney, 1996, 141, 144, 145, 149, 151, 155, 171.

Robert Croll (Editor), Smike to bulldog: letters from Sir Arthur Streeton to Tom Roberts 1946, Sydney, 1946, 45 (illus.).

Janet Hawley, Good Weekend 24 Feb 1996, 'Tom Roberts Bailed Up', pg. 32-39, Sydney, 24 Feb 1996, 38 (colour illus.).

Ann Hodgens, The people in the paintings: a research report for the Art Gallery of New South Wales 2006, Inverell, 2006, front cover (illus.).

Ann Hodgens (Editor), Tom Roberts Festival 2006: Heritage tour, Inverell, 2006, front cover (illus.).

Inverell Art Gallery, Tom Roberts Art Exhibition. Tom Roberts Festival 2001 2001, Inverell, 2001, front cover (illus.), 3. cat.no. 7

Patrick H McCarthy, Bailed up: the story behind the painting, ‘Introduction’, pg. 9-14, Sydney, 2006, 14-15, 132 (colour illus.), 176.

Humphrey McQueen, Tom Roberts, Sydney, 1996, 640.

Hal Missingham, Artists by artists 1954, Sydney, 1954, 10. cat.no. 61; black and white illustration featured on an un-paginated page.

Timothy Morrell, Art Monthly Australia Jul 2004, 'To look within: Self portraits in Australia at the University of Queensland Art Museum', pg. 26-28, Acton, Jul 2004, 27.

John Neylon, Jane Hylton and Tracey Lock-Weir, Tom Roberts: Education guide 1996, Adelaide, 1996, (colour illus.).

Ron Radford, Humphrey McQueen, Mary Eagle, Virginia Spate, Daniel Thomas, Jane Hylton, Barry Pearce, Leigh Astbury, Helen Topliss, Roger Butler and Jane Hylton, Tom Roberts 1996, Adelaide, 1996, 1 (colour illus.), 4, 214 (illus.).

Andrew Sayers, To look within: self portraits in Australia 2004, 'The artist's self-portrait in Australia', pg. 6-33, Brisbane, 2004, 18, 21 (colour illus.).

Virginia Spate, Tom Roberts, Melbourne, 1978, 14 (illus.), 127, 149. illus.no. 1

Andrew Stevenson, The Sydney Morning Herald 09 Jan 2001, 'Tom's people', pg. 3, Sydney, 09 Jan 2001, 3 (colour illus.). NOTE: pg. 3 of Summer Metropolitan section

Wendy Symonds (Editor), Look Apr 1997, 'Tom Roberts', pg. 14-15, Victoria, Apr 1997, 14 (colour illus.).

The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales), 'Bailed up' re-enactment. Tom Roberts Festival 2001 2001, Inverell, 2001, front cover (illus.).

Daniel Thomas, Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly Jul 1969, 'Tom Roberts', pg. 466-487, Sydney, Jul 1969, 484 (illus.), 485.

Helen Topliss, Tom Roberts 1856-1931: a catalogue raisonné. Volume 2 - Plates, Melbourne, 1985, (illus.). plate no. 228

Helen Topliss, Tom Roberts 1856-1931: a catalogue raisonné. Volume 1 - Text, Melbourne, 1985, 209. cat.no. 595

Peter Ward, The Australian Magazine 28 Sep 1996-29 Sep 1996, 'More or less than meets the eye', pg. 22-27, Surry Hills, 28 Sep 1996-29 Sep 1996, contents (colour illus., detail), 23 (colour illus.).

A memorial exhibition of paintings by the late Tom Roberts (1932) 1932, Melbourne, 1932. cat.no. 5

Exhibition history (6)

A memorial exhibition of paintings by the late Tom Roberts (1932), Fine Arts Society Gallery, Melbourne, 21 Jun 1932–02 Jul 1932

Artists by artists (1954), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Nov 1954–05 Dec 1954

Tom Roberts (1996-1997):

Tom Roberts Festival (2001), Inverell Art Gallery, Inverell, 27 Apr 2001–06 May 2001

To look within: Self portraits in Australia:

Tom Roberts Festival - Portraiture (2006), Inverell Art Gallery, Inverell, 22 Apr 2006–05 May 2006