Twenty-One Gallery

The gallery was established circa 1918, and from 1926 it was housed at 15 Mill Street, in the Adelphi area of the capital. Its founder and owner, Molly Bernhard-Smith (1874-1969), who was allegedly an artist (I have no proof), coined the gallery name from the fact that its original premises were at 21 York Buildings, Adelphi. It was later moved to Durham House Street, Adelphi, and when that building was scheduled for demolition in connection with the Strand widening scheme in 1926, a further removal was effected to one of the oldest buildings in the West End, possibly at 15 Mill Street.

Molly Bernhard-Smith was particularly successful in securing the co-operation of some of the leading art creators of the day. Jacob Epstein was one of the first to exhibit there, and later an exhibition of the work of that great Serbian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic was arranged. Artist Graham Sutherland exhibited his works there in 1925 and again in 1928. Jan and Cora Gordon held an exhibition there in 1925, and they returned for another show in 1931, featuring drawings and paintings from their travels in Europe and America. One other very valuable activity of the gallery was the publication of fine etchings. Under Bernhard-Smith’s direction, the gallery became the headquarters for the Senefelder Club, promoting the art of lithography. It was renowned for maintaining high standards, typically hosting solo exhibitions and serving as a key publisher of fine etchings for notable printmakers. Some noted etchers of the day had their works published by this gallery, including F.L. Griggs, Edgar Wilson, Robert Austin and his brother Frederick Austin and Paul Drury.

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