Bell née Stephen, Vanessa, 1879-1961

Vanessa Bell was born in 1879, daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen and sister of Virginia Woolf. She studied art under Sir Arthur Cope and at the Royal Academy Schools under John Singer Sargent. In 1907 she married Clive Bell and worked mainly in London, Sussex and France. Vanessa Bell exhibited first at the New Gallery in 1905, and at the New English Art Club, the Allied Artists Association and at numerous London galleries. She became a member of the London Group in 1919 and her work was exhibited at the second Post-Impressionist Exhibition in 1912. A central figure in the Bloomsbury Group, she founded the Friday Club in 1905, and was influenced by Roger Fry and by Duncan Grant. As co-director of the Omega Workshops she carried out many decorative projects, particularly with Grant. The impact of Post-Impressionism caused a radical change in her work. Influenced by Matisse she established a leading role as a colourist before 1920. Between 1914-15 she produced some pure abstracts but later returned to a more traditional naturalism and greater realism in works that centred around her friends, still-life and landscapes. Vanessa Bell died in 1961.

From the guide to the Photograph albums and negatives by Vanessa Bell, [c 1870-1947], (Tate Gallery Archive)

The Bloomsbury Group, was a circle of writers and artists meeting at Vanessa Bell's London home during the early years of the Twentieth Century. The painters and Art critics in the group (Clive Bell, Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Duncan Grant) came to public attention and were responsible for introducing Post-Impressionism to London in two exhibitions, held in 1910 and 1912, both of which were organized by Roger Fry. As well as solo painting, the artists participated in collaborative schemes of design for theatre sets, murals and the decoration of private homes. They were also instrumental in setting up the Omega Workshops, which brought together a number of the artists of the avant-garde and had a great impact on applied design in England beween the wars.

From the guide to the Correspondence and other papers relating to Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell, Clive Bell, Duncan Grant and others, 1896-1960, (Tate Gallery Archive GB 70)