Goodridge Roberts
Encyclopedia
William Goodridge Roberts (1904-1974) was a Canadian painter known for his landscape paintings and unassuming still life
s and interiors.
Goodridge Roberts was the son of poet and novelist Theodore Goodridge Roberts and Frances Seymour Allen. Roberts was born in Barbados
in 1904 while his parent were on holiday from their New Brunswick
home.
Roberts studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
and at the Art Students League of New York
. From 1933 to 1936 was the resident artist at Queen's University. In 1938 Roberts joined the Eastern Group of Painters
, and in 1939 he exhibited at the New York World's Fair
. He taught at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
from 1940 to 1952. During the period from 1943 to 1945 he was an official war artist for the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
A scholarship was awarded (in 1953) by the Canadian government to allow Roberts to study painting in France. Then in 1959 he won the Glaxebrook award at the National Gallery of Canada for a landscape painting. This year (1959) until 1960 Roberts was the resident artist at the University of New Brunswick. In 1964, he won the A. J. Casson Award
, the annual “Open Water” competition organized by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
(CSPWC).
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
s and interiors.
Goodridge Roberts was the son of poet and novelist Theodore Goodridge Roberts and Frances Seymour Allen. Roberts was born in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
in 1904 while his parent were on holiday from their New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
home.
Roberts studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal was an educational institution founded in Quebec in 1922. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society was instrumental in its creation....
and at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
. From 1933 to 1936 was the resident artist at Queen's University. In 1938 Roberts joined the Eastern Group of Painters
Eastern Group of Painters
The Eastern Group of Painters was a Canadian artists collective founded in 1938 in Montreal, Quebec. The group included Montreal artists whose common interest was painting and an art for art's sake aesthetic, not the espousal of a nationalist theory as was the case with the Group of Seven or the...
, and in 1939 he exhibited at the New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. He taught at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
from 1940 to 1952. During the period from 1943 to 1945 he was an official war artist for the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
A scholarship was awarded (in 1953) by the Canadian government to allow Roberts to study painting in France. Then in 1959 he won the Glaxebrook award at the National Gallery of Canada for a landscape painting. This year (1959) until 1960 Roberts was the resident artist at the University of New Brunswick. In 1964, he won the A. J. Casson Award
A. J. Casson Award
The A. J. Casson Award is given to an artist whose work is considered the best submission to the annual “Open Water” competition organized by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour . It is named after Alfred Joseph Casson , painter. and a member of Canada's “Group of Seven”...
, the annual “Open Water” competition organized by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour , founded in 1925 is considered to be Canada’s official national water colour Society. Since the 1980s the Society has enjoyed Vice-regal Patronage from the incumbent Governor-General of Canada...
(CSPWC).