Roberts, David

Two portfolios consisting of sketches from dismembered sketch books, 1836-1863.

Roberts was born in Edinburgh in 1796, starting his professional life as a painter and decorator. After studying art in the evenings for some time, Roberts moved to London in 1822 and held an exhibition of his work at the Society of British Artists, becoming president of the society in 1831. He was most famous for sketches of foreign lands. Some of the sketches contained in MS 927 were exhibited at the Barbican Art Gallery during 1967.

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, holds correspondence, 1828-1864 (Ref: MSS 2255-57), a journal and correspondence, 1846-1864 (Ref: Accs 11635, 11672, 11694, 11697), correspondence with David Ramsay Hay and others, 1828-1861 (Ref: MSS 3521-22, 10276), correspondence and papers, 1836-1863 (Ref: Acc 7723, 7967), letters to Sir James Emerson Tennent, [1846-1864], and letters, 1831-1853 (Ref: Accs 11760, 11819); the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has letters, sketches and paintings, 1848-1867 (Ref: L 5116-1979, items 583-615), and letters from David Ramsay Hay, 1835-1838, and to William Hepworth Dixon, 1864 (Ref: pp30, 72); the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, contains letters to James Ballantyne, 1844-1864 (Ref: 444c-484c).

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Part of the Durning-Lawrence Library bequeathed to the University of London Library in 1929.