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Clive Bell

April 25, 2024

Arthur Clive Heward Bell (16 September 1881 – 17 September 1964)[1] was an English art critic, associated with formalism and the Bloomsbury Group. He developed the art theory known as significant form.

Portrait of Clive Bell by Roger Fry (c. 1924)

Biography edit

Early life and education edit

Bell was born in East Shefford, Berkshire, in 1881, the third of four children of William Heward Bell (1849–1927) and Hannah Taylor Cory (1850–1942). He had an elder brother (Cory), an elder sister (Lorna, Mrs Acton), and a younger sister (Dorothy, Mrs Hony). His father was a civil engineer who built his fortune in the family coal mines at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales – "a family which drew its wealth from Welsh mines and expended it on the destruction of wild animals."[2] They lived at Cleeve House, Seend, near Devizes, Wiltshire, where Squire Bell's many hunting trophies were displayed.[3]

Bell was educated at Marlborough College and at Trinity College, Cambridge, studying history.[4] In 1902 he gained an Earl of Derby scholarship to study in Paris, where his interest in art began.

Marriage and other liaisons edit

On returning to London early in 1907, he met and married Vanessa Stephen, the artist sister of Virginia Woolf.[5][6][7] They had two sons, Julian (1908–1937) and Quentin (1910–1996), who both became writers. Julian joined the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War as an ambulance driver and was killed by an enemy shell, aged 29.[8]

By World War I their marriage was over. Vanessa had begun a lifelong relationship with Duncan Grant, and Clive had a number of liaisons with other women including Mary Hutchinson. However, Clive and Vanessa never officially separated or divorced. Not only did they visit each other regularly, they also sometimes spent holidays together and paid "family" visits to Clive's parents. Clive lived in London but often spent long periods at Charleston Farmhouse, Sussex, where Vanessa lived with Duncan and her three children by Clive and Duncan. He supported her wish to have a child by Duncan and allowed his wife's only daughter, Angelica, to bear his surname.

Vanessa's daughter by Duncan, Angelica Garnett (1918–2012, née Bell), was raised as Clive's daughter until she married. She was informed by her mother, just prior to her marriage and shortly after her brother Julian's death, that Duncan Grant was her biological father.[8] This deception forms the central message of her memoir, Deceived with Kindness (1984).

According to historian Stanley Rosenbaum, "Bell may, indeed, be the least liked member of Bloomsbury.... Bell has been found wanting by biographers and critics of the Group – as a husband, a father, and especially a brother-in-law. It is undeniable that he was a wealthy snob, hedonist, and womaniser, a racist and an anti-Semite (but not a homophobe), who changed from a liberal socialist and pacifist into a reactionary appeaser. Bell's reputation has led to his being underestimated in the history of Bloomsbury...."[9]

Significant form edit

Main article: significant form

Soon after Bell met Roger Fry, he developed his art theory significant form. The two shared a passion for contemporary French art. Bell's book Art (1914) was the first publication of his theory, which he describes as "lines and colours combined in a particular way, certain forms, and relations of forms, that stir our aesthetic emotions."[10][11] This form can be seen in art created by many members of the Bloomsbury Group, an example being Interior at Gordon Square by Duncan Grant.

Political views edit

Bell was at one point an adherent of absolute pacifism, and during the First World War was a conscientious objector, allowed to perform Work of National Importance by assisting on the farm of Philip Morrell MP, at Garsington Manor. In his 1938 pamphlet War Mongers, he opposed any attempt by Britain to use military force, arguing "the worst tyranny is better than the best war."[12][13] Ideas that Bell eventually supported the war are unproven, as Mark Hussey points out in his 2021 biography of Bell (p. 350 n1).

Works edit

  • Art (1914)
  • Pot-boilers (1918)
  • Since Cézanne (1922)
  • Civilization (1928)
  • Proust (1929)
  • An Account of French Painting (1931)
  • Enjoying Pictures (1934)
  • Old Friends (1956)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Grayling, A.C; Goulder, Naomi; Pyle, Andrew, eds. (2006). ""'Identity', 'Logical connectives', 'Vagueness'"". Bell, Arthur Clive Heward - Oxford Reference. Continuum. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199754694.001.0001. hdl:11693/51028. ISBN 9780199754694. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. ^ Bell, Quentin (1968). Bloomsbury. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-297-76264-5. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. ^ . Cleeve House. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "Bell [post Clive-Bell], Arthur Clive Heward (BL899AC)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ^ Info Britain, accessed 2 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Index entry: Bell Arthur Clive H." Transcription of English and Welsh marriage registrations 1837–1983. ONS. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Index entry: Stephen Vanessa". Transcription of English and Welsh marriage registrations 1837–1983. ONS. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. ^ a b Hermione Lee, Virginia Woolf, London: Vintage, 1997, pp. 697–698.
  9. ^ S.P. Rosenbaum (2003). Georgian Bloomsbury: Volume 3: The Early Literary History of the Bloomsbury Group, 1910–1914. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-230-50512-4.
  10. ^ Bell, Clive (1916). Art. Chatto & Windus. p. 8.
  11. ^ Zeki, Semir (2013). "Clive Bell's "Significant Form" and the neurobiology of aesthetics". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 7: 730. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00730. ISSN 1662-5161. PMC 3824150. PMID 24273502.
  12. ^ Susan Sellers, The Cambridge Companion to Virginia Woolf Cambridge University Press, 2010; ISBN 0521896940, (p. 23).
  13. ^ Lawrence James, Warrior Race: A History of the British at War, Hachette UK, 2010; ISBN 0748125353 (p. 620).

Sources edit

  • Bell, Clive (2015) [1914]. Art. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781514244715.
  • Text of Art Gutenberg Project
  • Bywater, William G (1975). Clive Bell's Eye. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 9780814315347.

Further reading edit

  • Hussey, Mark, Clive Bell and the Making of Modernism: A Biography (2021). London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1408894446

External links edit

April 25, 2024
clive, bell, arthur, clive, heward, bell, september, 1881, september, 1964, english, critic, associated, with, formalism, bloomsbury, group, developed, theory, known, significant, form, portrait, roger, 1924, contents, biography, early, life, education, marria. Arthur Clive Heward Bell 16 September 1881 17 September 1964 1 was an English art critic associated with formalism and the Bloomsbury Group He developed the art theory known as significant form Portrait of Clive Bell by Roger Fry c 1924 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Marriage and other liaisons 1 3 Significant form 2 Political views 3 Works 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksBiography editEarly life and education edit Bell was born in East Shefford Berkshire in 1881 the third of four children of William Heward Bell 1849 1927 and Hannah Taylor Cory 1850 1942 He had an elder brother Cory an elder sister Lorna Mrs Acton and a younger sister Dorothy Mrs Hony His father was a civil engineer who built his fortune in the family coal mines at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales a family which drew its wealth from Welsh mines and expended it on the destruction of wild animals 2 They lived at Cleeve House Seend near Devizes Wiltshire where Squire Bell s many hunting trophies were displayed 3 Bell was educated at Marlborough College and at Trinity College Cambridge studying history 4 In 1902 he gained an Earl of Derby scholarship to study in Paris where his interest in art began Marriage and other liaisons edit On returning to London early in 1907 he met and married Vanessa Stephen the artist sister of Virginia Woolf 5 6 7 They had two sons Julian 1908 1937 and Quentin 1910 1996 who both became writers Julian joined the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War as an ambulance driver and was killed by an enemy shell aged 29 8 By World War I their marriage was over Vanessa had begun a lifelong relationship with Duncan Grant and Clive had a number of liaisons with other women including Mary Hutchinson However Clive and Vanessa never officially separated or divorced Not only did they visit each other regularly they also sometimes spent holidays together and paid family visits to Clive s parents Clive lived in London but often spent long periods at Charleston Farmhouse Sussex where Vanessa lived with Duncan and her three children by Clive and Duncan He supported her wish to have a child by Duncan and allowed his wife s only daughter Angelica to bear his surname Vanessa s daughter by Duncan Angelica Garnett 1918 2012 nee Bell was raised as Clive s daughter until she married She was informed by her mother just prior to her marriage and shortly after her brother Julian s death that Duncan Grant was her biological father 8 This deception forms the central message of her memoir Deceived with Kindness 1984 According to historian Stanley Rosenbaum Bell may indeed be the least liked member of Bloomsbury Bell has been found wanting by biographers and critics of the Group as a husband a father and especially a brother in law It is undeniable that he was a wealthy snob hedonist and womaniser a racist and an anti Semite but not a homophobe who changed from a liberal socialist and pacifist into a reactionary appeaser Bell s reputation has led to his being underestimated in the history of Bloomsbury 9 Significant form edit Main article significant form Soon after Bell met Roger Fry he developed his art theory significant form The two shared a passion for contemporary French art Bell s book Art 1914 was the first publication of his theory which he describes as lines and colours combined in a particular way certain forms and relations of forms that stir our aesthetic emotions 10 11 This form can be seen in art created by many members of the Bloomsbury Group an example being Interior at Gordon Square by Duncan Grant Political views editBell was at one point an adherent of absolute pacifism and during the First World War was a conscientious objector allowed to perform Work of National Importance by assisting on the farm of Philip Morrell MP at Garsington Manor In his 1938 pamphlet War Mongers he opposed any attempt by Britain to use military force arguing the worst tyranny is better than the best war 12 13 Ideas that Bell eventually supported the war are unproven as Mark Hussey points out in his 2021 biography of Bell p 350 n1 Works editArt 1914 Pot boilers 1918 Since Cezanne 1922 Civilization 1928 Proust 1929 An Account of French Painting 1931 Enjoying Pictures 1934 Old Friends 1956 See also editList of Bloomsbury Group peopleReferences edit Grayling A C Goulder Naomi Pyle Andrew eds 2006 Identity Logical connectives Vagueness Bell Arthur Clive Heward Oxford Reference Continuum doi 10 1093 acref 9780199754694 001 0001 hdl 11693 51028 ISBN 9780199754694 Retrieved 17 September 2018 Bell Quentin 1968 Bloomsbury Weidenfeld amp Nicolson p 23 ISBN 978 0 297 76264 5 Retrieved 6 February 2023 History of Cleeve House Cleeve House Archived from the original on 20 January 2022 via Internet Archive Bell post Clive Bell Arthur Clive Heward BL899AC A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Virginia Woolf biography and visits Info Britain accessed 2 October 2014 Index entry Bell Arthur Clive H Transcription of English and Welsh marriage registrations 1837 1983 ONS Retrieved 24 May 2016 Index entry Stephen Vanessa Transcription of English and Welsh marriage registrations 1837 1983 ONS Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b Hermione Lee Virginia Woolf London Vintage 1997 pp 697 698 S P Rosenbaum 2003 Georgian Bloomsbury Volume 3 The Early Literary History of the Bloomsbury Group 1910 1914 Palgrave Macmillan UK p 37 ISBN 978 0 230 50512 4 Bell Clive 1916 Art Chatto amp Windus p 8 Zeki Semir 2013 Clive Bell s Significant Form and the neurobiology of aesthetics Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7 730 doi 10 3389 fnhum 2013 00730 ISSN 1662 5161 PMC 3824150 PMID 24273502 Susan Sellers The Cambridge Companion to Virginia Woolf Cambridge University Press 2010 ISBN 0521896940 p 23 Lawrence James Warrior Race A History of the British at War Hachette UK 2010 ISBN 0748125353 p 620 Sources editBell Clive 2015 1914 Art CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN 9781514244715 Text of Art Gutenberg Project Bywater William G 1975 Clive Bell s Eye Detroit Wayne State University Press ISBN 9780814315347 Further reading editHussey Mark Clive Bell and the Making of Modernism A Biography 2021 London Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 978 1408894446External links editWorks by Clive Bell at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Clive Bell at Internet Archive CLIVE BELL DEAD ART CRITIC WAS 83 British Writer Championed Cezanne During 1920 s The New York Times 20 September 1964 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clive Bell amp oldid 1218527706, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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