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 in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

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. It is often distinguished from parchment, either by being made from calfskin (rather than the skin of other animals), or simply by being of a higher quality. Vellu ...

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 a British chemist and mineralogist. He published numerous scientific papers for the Royal Society during the early 1800s as well as defining Calamine (mineral), calamine, which would eventually be ...

, 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. Described as a 'female genius' by Horace Walpole, she was trained in sculpture by Giuseppe Ceracchi and John Bacon. Influenced by the Enlightenment, D ...

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 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 conserva ...

, 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 ( ) is a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. Originally called Blenheim Castle, it has been known as Blenheim Palace since the 19th century. One of England's larg ...

, in 1788 and 1789. In 1789 he was designer for '' The Maid of the Oaks'', and ''

False Appearances ''False Appearances'' is a 1789 comedy play by the British politician and general Henry Seymour Conway, inspired by the 1740 French play '' Trompeurs Dehors'' by Louis de Boissy. It appeared at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 20 April 1 ...

''. 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 held ...

of ''Trompeurs Dehors'' by

Louis de Boissy Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also ...

Later life

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

Duke of Clarence Duke of Clarence was a substantive title created three times in the Peerage of England. The title Duke of Clarence and St Andrews has also been created in the Peerage of Great Britain, and Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Prince Leopold, Duke ...

. 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 that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world th ...

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