Tom Roberts Art Works
Quote from Tom Roberts:
"The gardens are really the outdoor classrooms"
Shearing the Rams
- Painted during: 1888 - 1890
- Oil on canvas
- Mounted on a board - 121.9 x 182.6cm
- Can be found in National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
History:
Tom Roberts commenced working studies for this painting of strong masculine labour in the shearing shed at Brocklesby Station, Corowa in the spring of 1888.
Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
- Painted during: 1901 - 1903
- Oil on canvas
- Size: 304.5 x 509.2cm
- On permanent loan to the Parliament of Australia from the British Royal Collection Courtesy of Parliament House Art Collection
Washing Day, Kallista
- painted during: 1923 - 1925
- oil on canvas
- size: 35.5 - 53.3cm
- found in the Art Gallery of New South Wales
History:
In sharp contrast to his works of strong masculine labour, this work by Tom Roberts is a gentle, domestic subject, handled with great sensitivity. It depicts his wife, Lillie, in their garden at ‘Talisman’, Kallista, hanging out the family washing.
The Sunny South
- painted in 1887
- oil on canvas
- size: 30.8 - 61.2cm
- found in National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
History:
This work was painted by Tom Roberts in the summer of 1886-87, and was first exhibited under the title 'The Sunny South' in March 1887. Over the years it became popularly known as 'Boys Bathing', as it depicts a group of naked young boys bathing at what people now call Ricketts Point, Beaumaris.
Slumbering Sea, Mentone
- painted in 1887
- size: 51.8 - 76.5cm
- oil on canvas
- found in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Sherbrooke Forest
- painted in 1924
- oil on canvas
- size: 48.0 - 68.4 cm
- found in the Gallery of New South Wales
History:
This work captures the majestic beauty of Sherbrooke Forest, with the towering straight trunks of the eucalyptus trees rising from the rich fertile soil. At the time this work was painted, teams of horses and bullocks were often seen in Kallista, carting timber and deilvering building materials needed for housing. Tom Roberts painted this work close to his home, near the beginning of Royle Avenue, Kallista
Quiet Stream Heidelberg
- Painted during 1885
- Oil on canvas
- Size of painting: 24.5 - 45.2cm
- Private collection
History:
Roberts was living in Europe between 1881 and 1885, on his return back to Australia he went to visit some of his old friends in Heidelberg. This is where he came across Darebin Creek. In this painting Robert captured a quiet rural scene while also conveying the peace and tranquillity associated with a small country stream. The place he painted is now known as Banksia Park.
The Artists' Camp
- Painted in 1886
- Oil on canvas
- 45.7 - 60.8cm
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
History:
This art work at the site of David Houston’s paddock at box hill where Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin and Louis Abrahams pitched camp late in 1885. This selected location was approximately one kilometre from the box hill railway station and provided an area of natural bush to paint. The artists were known to have pitched their tent on the crest of the rise above Houston bark hut, close to damper creek, now known as Gardiner’s creek.
Across to the Dandenong Ranges
- painted in 1889
- oil on canvas
- size: 13.7 - 22.9cm
- found in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
A Summer Morning Tiff
- Painted in 1886
- Oil on canvas
- Size: 76.5 - 51.2 cm
- Found in Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
Had a linked poem to the painting:
Only a word at the splitter's track
A thoughtless blunder.
She is fair and haughty and answers bade,
So they part asunder.
With a jerk he loosens the fastening rein -
And she turns her back with a fine disdain
Ah me! sigh the saplings in sad refrain
As she passes under
Country Road Makers
- painted in 1923
- oil on canvas
- size: 72.5 - 50.3cm
- private collection
History:
In this work, Tom Roberts depicts the crushed rock surfacing of the Kallista-Emerald Road. Like ‘Shearing the Rams’, it is a work of great activity, that shows strong masculine labour, coupled with the patience of animals.