GB-70-tga-20096 - Manuscripts and typescripts by Vanessa Bell and correspondence to and from Duncan Grant

Identity area

Reference code

GB-70-tga-20096

Title

Manuscripts and typescripts by Vanessa Bell and correspondence to and from Duncan Grant

Date(s)

  • [1928]-2005 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

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.

Repository

Archival history

GB-70-tga-20096 [1928]-2005 Collection (fonds) 1 box Bell [née Stephen] , Vanessa , 1879–1961 , painter

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.

Presented to Tate Archive by Henrietta Garnett, June 2009.

This collection comprises writings by Vanessa Bell, including manuscripts written for the Memoir Club, and correspondence from the Bell family and others with Duncan Grant.

The collection has been arranged into two series:

TGA 20096/1 Writings by Vanessa Bell

TGA 20096/2 Correspondence

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Usual copyright restrictions apply.

English

Online and paper catalogue available

Entry compiled by Suzanne Keyte for AIM25 from the Tate Archive catalogue
Compiled in compliance with the General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD (G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
2009 Visual arts Bell [née Stephen] , Vanessa , 1879–1961 , painter Memoir Club

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Presented to Tate Archive by Henrietta Garnett, June 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This collection comprises writings by Vanessa Bell, including manuscripts written for the Memoir Club, and correspondence from the Bell family and others with Duncan Grant.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection has been arranged into two series:

TGA 20096/1 Writings by Vanessa Bell

TGA 20096/2 Correspondence

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright restrictions apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Online and paper catalogue available

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Tate Britain

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with the General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD (G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area