William Heath Robinson (British, 1872-1944) - 'Bacchanals', ...

Hammer

£420

William Heath Robinson (British, 1872-1944) - 'Bacchanals', four figures in lively celebration wearing floral headdresses amongst trees and foliage, signed 'W. Heath Robinson' lower right, with artist's name and title of work inscribed to label verso back board, watercolour, ink and charcoal on card, 51.2 x 31.6 cm, unframed. Provenance: consigned for sale from the estate of a family member of the artist.

William Heath Robinson was known for his children's books and humorous illustrations. He also contributed cartoons to publications like Sketch and Bystander. From 1903, he extended his talents to illustrate advertising and publicity books for companies such as Moss Brothers, showcasing his delightful cartoon style.

Heath Robinson maintained his passion for painting throughout his life. A series of watercolour pieces unveils a different facet of the artist, albeit one that appears tentatively in touch with his cartoons, contraptions and work in books. He later wrote of this passion: “I devoted much time to watercolour painting at home, relying very largely for this on my imagination… I have tried all through my life as an artist to keep this side of my work alive”.