Bobby Roberts as Bobbo the Clown.
Drawing
Artist/Maker |
This sketch was made by the Brighton-based illustrator, author, poet performer and teacher Curtis Tappenden. He visits many circuses and has made hundreds of lightning drawings capturing the moment at the ringside.
Bobbo the Clown, or Bobby Roberts, was born into the circus, the son of circus proprietors Bobby and Moira Roberts. After trying out with a horse act and a dog act, he started clowning aged 13, and with the help of his uncle Jacko (Jack) Fossett and the Rastelli Clowns who first did his make-up, Bobby Roberts made clowning his speciality, combined with other circus skills including juggling and unicycling. Bobby Roberts has described Bobbo as a: ' European style auguste.... a clown out of his time, an innocent born of the 1930s era, equal parts music hall and circus. He's everybody's best mate and wants everyone to enjoy themselves as much as he does.'
Bobbo the Clown, or Bobby Roberts, was born into the circus, the son of circus proprietors Bobby and Moira Roberts. After trying out with a horse act and a dog act, he started clowning aged 13, and with the help of his uncle Jacko (Jack) Fossett and the Rastelli Clowns who first did his make-up, Bobby Roberts made clowning his speciality, combined with other circus skills including juggling and unicycling. Bobby Roberts has described Bobbo as a: ' European style auguste.... a clown out of his time, an innocent born of the 1930s era, equal parts music hall and circus. He's everybody's best mate and wants everyone to enjoy themselves as much as he does.'
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Bobby Roberts as Bobbo the Clown. (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Ink and chinagraph wax pencil on cartridge paper |
Brief description | Bobbo the Clown. Ink and chinagraph wax pencil drawing by Curtis Tappenden |
Physical description | Drawing of Bobbo the Clown sitting on a circus tub stand with his legs around the back of a bentwood chair, his huge clown boots resting on its seat |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Signed recto in pencil by the artist
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Credit line | Given by the artist |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This sketch was made by the Brighton-based illustrator, author, poet performer and teacher Curtis Tappenden. He visits many circuses and has made hundreds of lightning drawings capturing the moment at the ringside. Bobbo the Clown, or Bobby Roberts, was born into the circus, the son of circus proprietors Bobby and Moira Roberts. After trying out with a horse act and a dog act, he started clowning aged 13, and with the help of his uncle Jacko (Jack) Fossett and the Rastelli Clowns who first did his make-up, Bobby Roberts made clowning his speciality, combined with other circus skills including juggling and unicycling. Bobby Roberts has described Bobbo as a: ' European style auguste.... a clown out of his time, an innocent born of the 1930s era, equal parts music hall and circus. He's everybody's best mate and wants everyone to enjoy themselves as much as he does.' |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.126-2018 |
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Record created | September 6, 2018 |
Record URL |
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