Henry Arthur Roberts

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this academic life drawing of a male nude is by the French artist Henry Arthur Roberts and dates from the early 1840s.<br> The drawing is presented and supplied in a modest hand painted glazed wooden frame dating from the mid-20th century (which is shown in these photographs). <br> This antique drawing is in good condition, commensurate with its age. It is in an untouched condition having never been restored. The paper has handling marks, some light surface dirt, the odd foxing mark and general age toning. The overall patina adds to the aesthetic and is supplied ready to hang and display.<br> The drawing is not signed but came from a portfolio of drawings by Henry Arthur Roberts.<br> <br> Henry Arthur Roberts was a recognised French artist, notable for his portraits and paintings of religious subjects. Born in Paris in 1819, he was the son of British watercolour artist James Roberts, himself active in Paris from 1819 -1846. Henry became a student of his father.<br> <br> Henry Roberts’s talent as a young man was such that he was accepted as a student of Michel Martin Drölling and worked extensively with him. Drölling, the highly acclaimed neoclassic artist (1786-1851) was noted for his theatrical paintings of history and grand portraits. He produced many notable works, including a ceiling work for the Louvre, and works in the Palace of Versailles. Roberts would have studied with Drölling at an early stage in his career, as Drölling died when Roberts was 32. Learning with such a master would have had a huge impact on Roberts in terms of his academic skills and his own emerging style.<br> <br> Roberts exhibited at the Salon de Paris from 1839, when he was only 20 years old, right through to 1867. His work in the Universal Exhibition of 1855 won him a Third Class Medal. He became Vice-President of the Association of Artists in Paris and in July 1898 he was elevated to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honour with a foreign title. This was the highest state honour available to him, in recognition of his status as an artist. <br> <br> Henry Roberts died in 1900, but his legacy lives on, with works in many famous public collections, including the Musée Carnavalet, the Musée du Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Orsay, and in Boston, USA. <br> <br> © Big Sky Fine Art<br> <br> This striking academic nude study is an original pencil and charcoal drawing on paper by the renowned French artist Henry Roberts (1819–1900), created in the early 1840s, no doubt as part of his training with Drölling.<br> The artwork features a standing male figure, rendered with masterful attention to anatomical detail, shading, and proportion, showcasing the classical training of 19th-century French academic artists.<br> Roberts’ work exemplifies the École des Beaux-Arts tradition, emphasizing realism, figure study, and dynamic posture, likely serving as a preparatory study for a larger composition or an academic exercise in life drawing. The figure, depicted with a naturalistic stance, holds a staff, adding to the composition’s sense of balance and movement.<br> This rare and historically significant piece is framed in a modest painted wooden frame, preserving its integrity while enhancing its antique appeal. The artwork’s delicate texture and visible aging add to its authenticity and charm, making it a valuable acquisition for collectors of 19th-century academic art, French figure drawings, and classical nude studies.<br> For enthusiasts of historical fine art, figurative drawings, and French academic studies, this Henry Roberts charcoal drawing represents a timeless piece of 19th-century art history.