David Roberts
(1796-1864), PainterEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 13 portraits
At the age of ten Roberts was apprenticed for seven years to an Edinburgh house painter, spending his evenings studying art. On completing his apprenticeship he began painting theatrical scenery. In 1822 the Edinburgh Fine Arts Institution accepted three of his paintings for exhibition; shortly afterwards he moved to London and began work at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He continued both scenery and easel painting until 1830, when his success exhibiting and selling the latter allowed him to become a full-time artist. For the rest of his life Roberts travelled widely in Europe and the Far East and used the sketches he made on these trips as source material for his highly successful and popular paintings.
by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(90)
by Charles West Cope
pencil, circa 1862
NPG 3182(7)
by Unknown artist
chalk
NPG 1371
after David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
carbon print, 1843-1848; published 1928
NPG Ax29539
by Caldesi, Blanford & Co, or by Leonida Caldesi
albumen carte-de-visite, early 1860s
NPG Ax14807
by Leonida Caldesi, or by Caldesi, Blanford & Co
albumen carte-de-visite, early 1860s
NPG Ax11916
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax11926
by Ernest Edwards, published by Lovell Reeve & Co
albumen print, published 1863
NPG Ax13825
by Unknown photographer
albumen print
NPG Ax27723
by Charles Baugniet, for Day & Haghe
lithograph, 1844
NPG D39789
by Charles Baugniet, for Day & Haghe
lithograph, 1844
NPG D39790
by Mason Jackson, published by Illustrated London News, after an intermediary drawing by Thomas Dewell Scott, after a photograph by John & Charles Watkins
wood engraving, published 10 December 1864
NPG D1397
by George T. Morgan
bronze medal, 1875
NPG D2926
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