Join ACE in investigating an era of tension between tradition and modernity during a period of decisive British art & design history. In this blog we explore two buildings with strong ties to the British Modernist movement of the early 20th Century.
In 1901 the death of Queen Victoria brought to an end a period of relative political stability, but with this came the birth of the British Modernist era, a period of experimentation and defiance of previously established artistic norms. As the early years of the 20th century continued and in the prelude to the World Wars, the British Modernist movement expanded into several creative directions, with some artistic groups coming together and others diverging onto new paths.
In 2026, ACE Cultural Tours will lead two tours that explore some of the works of defining British artists and designers of the early 20th century.
English Garden by Roger Elliot Fry, dated to sometime before 1935.
Charleston Farmhouse
Charleston Farmhouse was the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant from 1916. The two artists’ home became the meeting place for the group of artists, writers and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group. Inspired by the Post-Impressionist movements of Italy the artists decorated the interior of Charleston as it became a central element of the group’s identity.
The Breakfast Table by Roger Fry, 1918
The Bloomsbury Group, formed in 1905, was a group of artists, writers and intellectuals, named for the London district where they worked and studied. Artists of the Bloomsbury Group Members centred their work around the idea that art should be led by formal elements such as line, colour and shape. Artistic works by the group were known for their unconventional nature that reflected their equally unconventional personalities. The Charleston Farmhouse became a centre for experimental thinking as both a venue for garden parties as well as the location of the studios of artists Duncan and Vanessa. The artistic belief of the group was that art did not have to reflect reality but instead could have a reality of its own. They created worked to create works that blended the line between art and craft and could be enjoyed as part of everyday life instead of within the confines of the gallery.
Exterior of the Charleston Farm
In 1978, following the death of Duncan Grant, the Charleston Trust was established to restore and maintain the house. During our Sussex Modernism: Artists & Writers on the Downs tour we will visit the house and gardens at Charleston as well as other locations associated with the Bloomsbury group.
Sussex Modernism: Artists & Writers on the Downs
August 5–8, 2026
Discover the lives and works of artists and writers who made the beautiful Sussex countryside their home in the early 20th century. Step into houses once belonging to members of the Bloomsbury Group, including Mon's House and Charleston Farmhouse.
House for an Art Lover
House for an Art Lover was originally conceived as a design for an architectural design competition by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret MacDonald. Mackintosh (1868 - 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer and artist; He was best known for his influence and contributions to Modern Style, otherwise known as British Art Nouveau.
Original competition entry for House for an Art Lover by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1901
House for an Art Lover gets its name from the competition the design was entered into, in which was looking for “genuinely original modern designs will be considered”. Although disqualified for a late entry of certain illustrations, the design received high praise from the competition judges. From 1901, the year of the competition, until 1989, the design remained merely a concept until Graham Roxburgh, the engineer responsible for the restoration of other nearby Mackintosh projects, proposed the idea of building the house. In 1990 Roxburgh’s team completed the construction of the house.
Interior of House for an Art Lover, designed by Mackintosh in 1901, built in 1990
Mackintosh’s original concept was designed to be experienced as a in whole. The interior of the house contrasts traditional Victorian with modern designs and blends natural and abstract forms. Although the final construction in 1990 had many revisions and is not a wholly original Mackintosh design, it still retains authentic Mackintosh elements and stands as a homage to the architect. During our Mackintosh's Glasgow tour there will be visits to several Mackintosh projects and we hope to include a visit to House for an Art Lover amongst these.
Mackintosh's Glasgow
September 1–7, 2026
with James Winnett
Discover a selection of collections and architectural sites that showcase the varied art and architecture to be found in and around Glasgow. Follow the work of key figures including Robert Adam, Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and explore the worlds of the Glasgow Boys and Glasgow Girls.
Image credits:
English Garden | Image in public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Breakfast Table | Image in public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Charleston Exterior | Image by Antiquary on Wikimedia Commons under CC BY SA 4.0
House for an Art Lover | Image in public domain via Wikimedia Commons
House for an Art Lover Interior | Image by Culture Grid on Europeana under CC BY 3.0
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