Peter Gregory (1887-1959), Director and then Chairman of Lund Humphries, was at the heart of the avant-garde British art world for nearly thirty years of major change in society, politics, and culture. A pioneering art publisher who produced scholarly and richly illustrated monographs on living artists, he was also a discerning patron and collector, the founder of new arts organisations, and a loyal supporter of young artists.
Valerie Holman’s new book is the first to situate Gregory’s life and career within the wider context of printing and publishing history, war, and changing perceptions of modern and contemporary art. Gregory's intimate circle included many leading artists, architects and writers: Henry Moore considered him his closest friend, Kenneth Clark sought out his committee expertise, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth respected his professionalism and invited him into their family circle, and he had a warm friendship with Edward McKnight Kauffer, Herbert Read, Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry.
By drawing for the first time on Gregory's unpublished diaries and correspondence, the book offers insights into what motivated him, his political stance and attitude to industry, and his views on art and literature. It also shows how, as an individual, he became one of the twentieth century’s most effective champions of contemporary art and design.