Tom Roberts

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tom-roberts

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Tom Roberts born?March 8, 1856
2. Where was Tom Roberts born?Holloway, England
3. What is the artistic movement leadership?Key figure and driving force behind the Heidelberg School (Australian Impressionism)
4. What is the cultural advocacy?First to propose the establishment of a National Portrait Gallery in Australia
5. Who was Tom Roberts and why is he important in Australian art?Tom Roberts was an artist who helped start the Heidelberg School, bringing new Impressionist ideas to Australia and shaping its national art style.
6. What was the 9 by 5 Impression Exhibition and why was it special?In 1889, Roberts and friends showed paintings on small cigar‑box lids, a bold way to display fresh Australian landscapes and new artistic techniques.

Plein Air Painting: The practice of painting outdoors, directly observing and capturing natural light and atmosphere.
Avant-Garde Art: Art that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox, often challenging established norms and traditions.
National Narratives in Art: Artworks that explore and represent significant historical events, cultural themes, or societal aspects of a nation.
Australian Impressionism: A distinct style of Impressionist painting that emerged in Australia, characterized by its focus on the unique light and landscape of the continent.