Discover the lives and works of artists and writers who made the beautiful Sussex countryside their home in the early 20th century, from a base at The Star, a characterful and refined Polizzi Collection property in the delightful village of Alfriston
Step into houses once belonging to members of the Bloomsbury Group, including Monk’s House, home to Virginia Woolf, and Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s Charleston
View pieces from one of the largest collections of work by Eric Ravilious at the Towner Eastbourne, and gain unique insights into the life of photographer Lee Miller at Farleys House & Gallery with a special private talk
“Suzanne was so very knowledgeable and helpful. I really enjoyed the tour and learnt a lot!”
– ACE customers on a previous tour to Sussex led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
A century ago, the county of Sussex became a hub for artists and writers who came to escape the urban sprawl, be inspired by stimulating new surroundings and build new lives. Our tour takes us to many of the houses and gardens in which their ideas and lifestyles were formed, homes that both embrace the richness of the past and showcase modern ideals sought by English artists and writers at the time.
From the 1890s to the 1940s, British design was driven by the tension between tradition and modernity. Houses and interiors at the turn of the century continued to explore the delightful possibilities of the Arts & Crafts movement: Philip Webb’s plans for Standen (1891-4), for example, incorporated the brightest and best of Morris & Co interior design.
Connected to this theme, we will pay a visit to Gravetye Manor to enjoy lunch at their Michelin-starred restaurant, followed by an independent exploration of its Arts & Crafts gardens, created by visionary gardener William Robinson in the late 19th century.
Also at the heart of our tour is an exploration of the life and work of the Bloomsbury Group: Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and their friends desired to create a modern movement in Britain to rival the new art of Paris and Berlin. The transformation of the old Sussex farmhouse of Charleston, through bold colour and abstract pattern-making, bears witness to their ingenuity and creativity.
Farleys House was the home of Surrealist photographer, Vogue model and Second World War correspondent Lee Miller, recently brought to life in the much-anticipated film Lee starring Kate Winslet. The house played host to many leading figures of 20th century modern art, including Picasso. Here, we will discover the remarkable stories of its inhabitants as well as the characterful interiors. In addition, we hope to enjoy a private talk from a member of the family, gaining further, uniquely personal insights into the house and the lives led there.
Artists like Eric Ravilious were walking the Downs in the 1920s and 30s, wrestling with the desire to paint in a style that was sensitive to the deep history of the landscape while responding to the upheavals in art and design since the First World War. A visit to the Towner Eastbourne will offer an opportunity to absorb highlights from the gallery’s extensive collection of works by Ravilious, having taken in some of the scenes that inspired him en route.
We will stay at The Star in Alfriston, a beautiful accommodation that is ideally located for our tour.
Suzanne Fagence Cooper
Suzanne is a specialist in 19th and 20th century British and French art.
This tour will be led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper, MA, PhD, a curator and historian whose specialisms include 19th and 20th century British and French art. An Arts Society accredited lecturer, she was a curator and Research Fellow at the V&A Museum for 12 years and has collaborated with many of Britain’s regional museum collections. She is the author of To See Clearly: Why Ruskin Matters (2019) and How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and William Morris (2022), and curated the 2019 exhibition Turner, Ruskin & the Storm Cloud at York Art Gallery.
4
£2195
SUMO-26
