I have been fascinated by the Bloomsbury collection of writers and artists, philosophers and intellectuals since my early college days. Since my very pinpointed minor in British art, I have gobbled up all things written about this artistic group from the early 20th century that called Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Lytton Strachey, Roger Fry, EM Forster and so many others members. This loose collection of friends and relatives lived, worked or studied together near Bloomsbury London. Their art, writings and teachings really influenced the 20th century and their effects are felt today in ideas about literature, criticism, feminism, economics and sexual mores.
Artist Vanessa Bell and her husband Clive had a country home outside of Lewes England and named it Charleston and we visited earlier this month.
The soap opera of their lives is complicated. Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf are sisters. Vanessa marries Clive. But she really loves Duncan Grant. Vanessa has an affair with Roger Fry--but she really does love Duncan. Her husband doesn't much care and they all live together. Virginia Woolf marries Leonard but along comes Vita Sackville-West and she has an affair with her. Vanessa Bell has a daughter named Angelica who thinks Clive Bell is her father--but he's not--Duncan Grant is. Angelica goes on to marry much older David "Bunny" Garnett who was previously a lover to her father........ You get the picture.
http://www.charleston.org.uk
Charleston is in the small village of Firle near Lewis. The first Bloomsbury member to live hewre was Virginia Woolfe who in 1910 rented a cottage. She made her own curtains but only stayed here for a year. She was later to return to the area when she an her husband Leonard bought Monk's House in the nearby village of Rodmell. The River Ouse flowa nearby and it was here that Virginia drowned herself.
ReplyDeleteJohn Maynard Keynes, the famous economist bought a farmhouse in Firle, driving down from London each weekend. He kept pigs and the enterprise was profitable.
The village often saw large numbers of Bloomsbury Group members visiting and it became one of their retreats from London.
Just a mile or two away is Glyndebourne Opera house, set in the midst of yhe Sussex countryside.
Four miles from Firle is Berwick Church which was decorated by Vanessa and Duncan. Commissioned by the Bishop of Chichester, the painted bibli al scenes on the walls in yhe fashion of middle age churches. Local residents modelled for the murals which depict biblical scenes. Even the font and pulpit are beautifully decorated.