Galerie Valentin, Montreal
Private Collection, Toronto
William Goodridge Roberts’ still life paintings are an apt demonstration of the artist’s range; from the pared-down modernist experiments of the 1940s to the vigorous impastos of his late period. What remained constant was Roberts’ diligent commitment to his studio practice and his emphasis on painting from direct, careful observation. Roberts drew on the influence of French painting, particularly the works of Cézanne and Chardin. With lively but precise brushstrokes, Roberts depicts each object with highlights and subtle tonal shifts. The flowers delicately catch the light, drawing them out from the earthy background. Roberts seems to take enjoyment in the painterly skill involved in contrasting the dimensional objects on the table from the flat decorative motifs of the tablecloth.
