Date of Birth: December 14, 1866
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: September 9, 1934
Biography
Roger Fry was an eminent English artist and art critic, born on December 14, 1866, in London, England. He is widely renowned for his influential role in the development of modern art appreciation in Britain. Fry was a pivotal member of the Bloomsbury Group, an association of writers, intellectuals, philosophers, and artists. He studied at the University of Cambridge, where he developed a keen interest in the visual arts. Initially, Fry pursued a career in science, but his passion for painting and art criticism soon led him to become one of the most respected voices in the art world. Fry’s contributions to art extended beyond his own works as a painter; he was instrumental in introducing Post-Impressionist art to the British audience through his organization of two landmark exhibitions in 1910 and 1912. These exhibitions featured works by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Paul Gauguin, and they significantly impacted the modern art movement in Britain. Fry’s writings and lectures further solidified his reputation as a leading art critic and theorist. Fry’s career also included a stint as a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and teaching positions at the Slade School of Fine Art and the University of Cambridge. His legacy endures through his extensive writings on art and his advocacy for the appreciation of modern and contemporary art.
5 Interesting Facts about Roger Fry
1. Roger Fry coined the term “Post-Impressionism” to describe the work of artists who were reacting against the impressionist movement.
2. He was a founding member of the Omega Workshops, an influential design enterprise that produced a range of decorative arts.
3. Fry was a close friend and confidant of Virginia Woolf, who was also a member of the Bloomsbury Group.
4. He translated works by French artists and critics, making significant contributions to the understanding of French art in the English-speaking world.
5. Despite his significant influence in the art world, Fry’s own paintings were often overlooked in favor of his critical and curatorial work.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Roger Fry
1. “Art is significant deformity.”
2. “The artist’s business is to express the felt significance of things.”
3. “The essence of a work of art lies not in its representational qualities but in its inherent form and color.”
4. “The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”
5. “Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Roger Fry’s net worth is not well documented, but his highest achieved net worth is estimated to be modest by modern standards, largely due to his focus on academic and curatorial work rather than commercial success.
Children
Roger Fry had two children, Pamela and Julian Fry, from his marriage to the artist Helen Coombe.
Relevant Links
1. [Roger Fry – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Fry
2. [The Bloomsbury Group – Tate](https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/b/bloomsbury
3. [Roger Fry’s Art Criticism – The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/roger-fry
4. [Omega Workshops – Victoria and Albert Museum](https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-omega-workshops
5. [Roger Fry and Post-Impressionism – The Met](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pstp/hd_pstp.htm