James Roberts (1753–ca.1809) was a painter active in England in the later 18th century. He is best known as a portraitist, though he also painted landscapes and miniatures.

Early life

He was the son of a landscape engraver, also named James Roberts. He exhibited annually at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

from 1773 to 1784. Roberts worked on a set of dramatic portraits, to be engraved for the book series ''Bell's British Theatre''. These were for John Bell, and were executed from 1775 to 1781, as a collection of over 60 watercolours on

vellum Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. Parchment is another term for this material, from which vellum is sometimes distinguished, when it is made from calfskin, as opposed to that made from other anima ...

Oxford period

For a period Roberts worked in Oxford as a drawing master, where he fell under the influence of John Baptist Malchair. While at Oxford he painted his portrait of

James Smithson James Smithson (c. 1765 – 27 June 1829) was an English chemist and mineralogist. He published numerous scientific papers for the Royal Society during the late 1700s as well as assisting in the development of calamine, which would eventually ...

, for Smithson's M.A. graduation in 1786. During this period (around 1784 to 1795) Roberts made drawings of the sculptures of

Anne Seymour Damer Anne Seymour Damer, ''née'' Conway, (26 October 1748 – 28 May 1828) was an English sculptor. Once described as a 'female genius' by Horace Walpole, she was trained in sculpture by Giuseppe Ceracchi and John Bacon. Influenced by the Enlighten ...

intended for a published series of engravings, but in the end only one issue of the engravings came out. He portrayed Philip Hayes in water-colour and in pastel. His portrait of

John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

was unique, the only portrait for which Hawkins sat.

Laetitia Matilda Hawkins Laetitia Matilda Hawkins (baptized 8 August 1759 – 22 November 1835) was an English novelist, associated with Twickenham. She was the daughter of Sir John Hawkins, an acquaintance of Samuel Johnson. Hawkins was an outspoken yet highly conserv ...

, daughter of Hawkins, considered that flattery from Hayes was the reason her father agreed to sit for Roberts, that the result was uncharacteristic, and that the book shown was a novel. Marlborough Theatricals

Roberts was also a scene painter at

Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace (pronounced ) is a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the only non-royal, non- episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, on ...

, in 1788 and 1789. In 1789 he was designer for ''

The Maid of the Oaks ''The Maid of the Oaks'' is a comedy play by the British playwright and soldier General John Burgoyne, known as Gentleman Johnny. It was originally written in celebration of the forthcoming marriage of Edward Smith-Stanley, heir to the earldom ...

'', and ''False Appearances''. a translation by

Henry Seymour Conway Field Marshal Henry Seymour Conway (1721 – 9 July 1795) was a British general and statesman. A brother of the 1st Marquess of Hertford, and cousin of Horace Walpole, he began his military career in the War of the Austrian Succession. He ...

of ''Trompeurs Dehors'' by

Louis de Boissy Louis de Boissy (26 November 1694, Vic-sur-Cère – 19 April 1758, Paris) was an 18th-century French poet and playwright. He was elected to seat 6 of the Académie française on 12 August 1754. He wrote satires and several comedies, of which th ...

Later life

By 1795, Roberts had an appointment as portrait painter to the

Duke of Clarence Duke of Clarence is a substantive title which has been traditionally awarded to junior members of the British Royal Family. All three creations were in the Peerage of England. The title was first granted to Lionel of Antwerp, the second son ...

. He exhibited again annually at the

from 1795 to 1799. The

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London housing a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. It was arguably the first national public gallery dedicated to portraits in the world when it ...

holds 52 portraits by Roberts or copied from his work.

Notes

External links

Information about James Roberts at the National Portrait Gallery website
18th-century English painters English male painters English portrait painters Year of death unknown 1753 births 18th-century English male artists {{England-painter-stub