Roger Fry

by Roger Fry
oil on canvas, 1930-1934
23 1/2 in. x 19 1/2 in. (597 mm x 495 mm)
Given by the sitter's sister, (Sara) Margery Fry, 1952
Primary Collection
NPG 3833

Sitterback to top

Roger Fry (1866-1934), Critic and painter. Sitter in 18 portraits, Artist or producer of 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

Roger Fry (1866-1934), Critic and painter. Artist or producer of 5 portraits, Sitter in 18 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This self-portrait was one of a number in which Fry presents himself gazing out through spectacles at the viewer. Painted in the last four years of Fry's life, it uses a subdued palette and a restrained naturalism. Having earlier been a leading champion of Matisse and Picasso, this puzzled some observers. Significantly, however, Kenneth Clark identified a 'naïve earnestness' in such works.

Linked publicationsback to top

Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 233
Spalding, Frances, The Bloomsbury Group, 2013, p. 58
Spalding, Frances, Insights: The Bloomsbury Group, 2005, p. 52

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

The Burlington Magazine Centenary (From 26 March 2003)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1930back to top

Current affairs

Amy Johnson is the first woman to fly solo to Australia. She flew the 11,000 miles from Croydon to Darwin in a De Havilland Gipsy Moth named Jason and won the Harmon Trophy as well as a CBE for her achievement. She went on to break a number of other flying records, and died while serving in the Air Transport Auxiliary in 1941.

Art and science

Noel Coward's play, Private Lives is first performed. The original run starred Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier as well as Coward himself. Private Lives became Coward's most enduringly successful play.

International

Gandhi leads the Salt March. The march to the coast was a direct protest against the British monopoly on the sale of salt and inspired hordes of Indians to follow him and adopt his methods of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance to the British rule of India).
Stalin orders the 'liquidation of the kulaks (wealthy farmers) as a class' in a violent attempt to centralise control of agriculture and collectivise farming.

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