This exhibition is the first major show in more than 25 years to highlight Roger Fry (1866-1934) as a painter, revealing works by one of Britain’s most influential art figures.

It comes to The Museum of Somerset courtesy of Charleston, the Sussex-home synonymous with the influential Bloomsbury Group.

Alongside Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Fry was a member of the Bloomsbury Group – a group of artists, writers and thinkers that helped shape new ideas in art, literature and design in the 20th century. 

Studland Bay, 1911, oil on canvas, Touchstones Rochdale, Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service. Photo © Touchstones Rochdale, Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service

The Black Sea Coast, 1911, Museum & Art Swindon. Photo © Museum & Art Swindon

The Window, 1918, oil on hessian © University Collections, University of Birmingham.

Town in Mountains with Poplars, 1910, oil on hessian © University Collections, University of Birmingham.

The Blythburgh Estuary, 1892-3, oil on canvas, The Courtauld. Photo © The Courtauld.

River with Poplars, c.1912, oil on plywood. Tate: Presented by Mrs Pamela Diamand, the artist's daughter 1973. Photo © Tate.

 

Changing the Course of British Art

Best known for his work as an art critic, writer, and curator, Fry was instrumental in bringing post-impressionism to England. His 1910 and 1912 exhibitions at the Grafton Galleries in London, featuring Cézanne, Matisse, Van Gogh, were revolutionary. They introduced a shocked British public to this bold new movement, helping to ignite the modernist era in Britain and forever changing the course of British art.

Discover

1. See rare and remarkable artworks, including pieces never before displayed publicly, shown alongside nationally significant works

2. Explore more than 40 stunning artworks, from landscapes and portraits to interiors that showcase Fry’s modern style and bold use of colour

3. Discover the Somerset story behind a nationally important artist

4. View works by Helen Coombe, Fry’s wife and an accomplished artist whose work is seldom seen

Enjoy

1. Experience the wellbeing benefits of art, with the exhibition offering space for reflection, calm and connection

2. Enjoy great art in Somerset, celebrating modern British art at its best

3. Come along to expert talks and tours to learn more about modernism and the Bloomsbury Group 

4. Explore your own creativity at workshops for adults and families

The exhibition has been produced in partnership with Charleston, Sussex and supported by The Court Gallery, West Somerset.

Header image: Portrait of Nina Hamnett, 1917, oil on canvas, The Courtauld. Photo © The Courtauld.