Artist: John Ross Roberts
Title: "Leucospermum, White Watsonia, Protea Leucadendron
Medium: Oil on Board
Edition: Original, One of a kind
Artwork Dimensions: 50cm x 40cm (20" x 16")
Frame Dimensions: 64cm x 54cm (24" x 21")
Condition: Image: Good. Frame: Good, some marks. See photos
About the artwork
This oil painting by South African artist John Ross Roberts, dated October 1966, presents a vivid study of indigenous flora with a bouquet of Leucospermum (Pincushions Protea), White Watsonia (Bugle Lily), and a stylised Protea Leucadendron (Conebushes). Roberts’ expressive brushwork and warm tonal background heighten the vibrancy of the blossoms, while the protea forms act as dramatic focal points within the composition. The inscription on the reverse confirms both the botanical subjects and the date, situating the work within Roberts’ mid‑century period when South African artists increasingly celebrated native plant life as emblems of cultural identity. Signed lower right, the painting embodies Roberts’ Fauvist‑inspired palette and painterly confidence, offering a striking balance between natural abundance and artistic interpretation.
About the Artist
John Ross Roberts (South African, active mid‑20th century) is recognised for his expressive oil paintings that celebrate both indigenous flora and European landscapes. Trained in South Africa and influenced by Fauvist colour theory during travels abroad, Roberts developed a distinctive style marked by bold brushwork, vibrant tonal contrasts, and a confident handling of natural subjects. His oeuvre includes floral studies of proteas, leucospermum, and watsonia, alongside village scenes painted in Italy, Spain, and France. Works from the 1960s, such as the present example, reflect a period when Roberts embraced South Africa’s botanical heritage as a central theme, situating his practice within a broader movement of artists who sought to define national identity through native plant imagery.
