Goodridge Roberts
(Canadian, b. Barbados, 1904–1974)
Still Life with Flowers, Lemons, and Books
c. 1955–1965
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: G. Roberts
Canvas: 38 × 42 in. (96.5 × 106.7 cm)
Executed circa 1955 to 1965, Still Life with Flowers, Lemons, and Books is a monumental canvas that stands among the most substantial studio compositions by Goodridge Roberts. Spanning an impressive 38 by 42 inches, the painting features a white pitcher brimming with vibrant magenta petunias, surrounded by stacked hardcover books, an open tome, and bright yellow lemons arranged on a decorative patterned tablecloth.
Roberts applied a structural, post-impressionist approach to the domestic still life, heavily inspired by Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. By slightly tilting the table plane toward the viewer, he transformed ordinary studio objects into a complex balance of form, color, and spatial geometry. The contrast between the cool, muted background tones and the vivid flashes of yellow lemons and magenta petals showcases Roberts' mastery of color dynamics.
A pivotal milestone in Roberts' career came in 1952, when he was chosen to represent Canada in its historic debut at the 28th Venice Biennale alongside Emily Carr, David Milne, and Alfred Pellan. While celebrated alongside these national icons for his landscapes, his grand studio still lifes remain central to his artistic legacy because they granted him total control over composition and form. Canvases of this impressive four-foot scale are exceptionally rare in his oeuvre and represent premier, museum-tier works from his mature period.
Major Accolades & Recognition:
Selected for Canada's inaugural exhibition at the Venice Biennale (1952) alongside Emily Carr, David Milne, and Alfred Pellan
Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C., 1969)
Member, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (R.C.A., elected 1957)
First Artist-in-Residence at Queen's University (1933) and the University of New Brunswick (1959)
Founding member of the Contemporary Arts Society (1939) and Eastern Group of Painters (1938)
Subject of major retrospectives at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery (1960) and the National Gallery of Canada (1969)
Selected Permanent Collections:
National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, ON)
Art Gallery of Ontario / AGO (Toronto, ON)
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal / MMFA (Montreal, QC)
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal / MACM (Montreal, QC)
Vancouver Art Gallery (Vancouver, BC)
Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Fredericton, NB)
Goodridge Roberts
(Canadian, b. Barbados, 1904–1974)
Still Life with Flowers, Lemons, and Books
c. 1955–1965
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: G. Roberts
Canvas: 38 × 42 in. (96.5 × 106.7 cm)
Executed circa 1955 to 1965, Still Life with Flowers, Lemons, and Books is a monumental canvas that stands among the most substantial studio compositions by Goodridge Roberts. Spanning an impressive 38 by 42 inches, the painting features a white pitcher brimming with vibrant magenta petunias, surrounded by stacked hardcover books, an open tome, and bright yellow lemons arranged on a decorative patterned tablecloth.
Roberts applied a structural, post-impressionist approach to the domestic still life, heavily inspired by Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. By slightly tilting the table plane toward the viewer, he transformed ordinary studio objects into a complex balance of form, color, and spatial geometry. The contrast between the cool, muted background tones and the vivid flashes of yellow lemons and magenta petals showcases Roberts' mastery of color dynamics.
A pivotal milestone in Roberts' career came in 1952, when he was chosen to represent Canada in its historic debut at the 28th Venice Biennale alongside Emily Carr, David Milne, and Alfred Pellan. While celebrated alongside these national icons for his landscapes, his grand studio still lifes remain central to his artistic legacy because they granted him total control over composition and form. Canvases of this impressive four-foot scale are exceptionally rare in his oeuvre and represent premier, museum-tier works from his mature period.
Major Accolades & Recognition:
Selected for Canada's inaugural exhibition at the Venice Biennale (1952) alongside Emily Carr, David Milne, and Alfred Pellan
Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C., 1969)
Member, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (R.C.A., elected 1957)
First Artist-in-Residence at Queen's University (1933) and the University of New Brunswick (1959)
Founding member of the Contemporary Arts Society (1939) and Eastern Group of Painters (1938)
Subject of major retrospectives at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery (1960) and the National Gallery of Canada (1969)
Selected Permanent Collections:
National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, ON)
Art Gallery of Ontario / AGO (Toronto, ON)
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal / MMFA (Montreal, QC)
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal / MACM (Montreal, QC)
Vancouver Art Gallery (Vancouver, BC)
Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Fredericton, NB)
