Rejected

Rejected is an 1883 oil on canvas by the Australian painter Tom Roberts, probably showing the artist early in his career. It is believed to be a rare self-portrait, shown with his wife, Lillie. Seated in a studio with his chin resting on his hand, he gazes wistfully at an unseen canvas, while a partly hidden female figure sits beside him, seemingly offering comfort. The title hints that the painting he regrets may have been turned down for an exhibition.

Its attribution was contested. A specialist in Roberts, author of his catalogue raisonné, found inconsistencies in the brushwork, composition and signature and judged it not to be authentic. Later, a British television series took up the case. Scientific tests placed the materials in the right period, and infrared imaging revealed an inscription with the title and an address linked to Roberts's student years at the Royal Academy. Another expert ultimately regarded it as an early work by him.

Painter

Tom Roberts

Date

1883

Medium

oil paint, canvas

Museum

Joe Natoli

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