Chenil Gallery

Located at 181–183 King's Road, the gallery was founded in 1905 by Jack Knewstub, The gallery, with two exhibition rooms, shared its building with Charles Chenil & Co Ltd., a seller of art supplies and picture frames. In 1927, Knewstub declared bankruptcy and closed the gallery; Augustus John, who had a studio in the Chenil's garden, exhibited his work continuously at the gallery. However, the studio which began as a countercultural "bohemian" enterprise was unable to compete with studios attracting younger artists, and failed in efforts to reinvent itself along more commercial lines. As of the mid-2000s, the building still stood and the gallery location had become "more of a shopping arcade" still operating under the Chenil Galleries name, with author Suzy Gershman describing it as being "known as a good place for antique medical instruments, as well as 17th- and 18th-century paintings and smaller items", as well as costume jewelry. ==Selected exhibitions==

In 1911, James Dickson Innes had a two-man exhibition with Eric Gill at the Chenil Gallery, London: "Sculptures by Mr Eric Gill and Landscapes by Mr J. D. Innes". In 1914, the gallery exhibited David Bomberg's The Mud Bath as part of a solo exhibition of his work. A 1964 Tate Gallery report noted that the painting was "hung outside the Gallery premises that it may have every advantage of lighting and space". Henry Tonks persuaded his former pupil, Edna Clarke Hall, to hold a one-woman show at the gallery in 1914. This show was a critical success, with one review describing her as a 'sensitive and expressive draughtswoman who reaches a masterly plane' and admiring her 'individual and instinctive' use of colour. Again in 1914, Augustus John facilitated sculptor Frank Dobson being able to stage a one-man show at the gallery. In 1922 Leon Underwood had his first solo exhibition at the gallery. William Roberts, who had been an official war artist, had his first one-man show at the Chenil Gallery in 1923. Augustus John's sister, Gwen John, had the only solo exhibition in her lifetime at the gallery in 1926. Alexander Stuart-Hill displayed at the gallery in 1927. ==Studio recordings==

In 1926, John Barbirolli was invited to conduct a new ensemble at the gallery, initially called the "Chenil Chamber Orchestra" but later renamed "John Barbirolli's Chamber Orchestra". Barbirolli's concerts at the gallery impressed Frederic Austin, director of the British National Opera Company (BNOC), who in the same year invited him to conduct some performances with the company. In 1930, jazz musician Spike Hughes first formed his own group and used the gallery as a recording venue for its music, in April of that year persuading the American musician Jimmy Dorsey to visit Chelsea for some sessions whilst he was in the UK. Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded there in July 1933, including the track Hyde Park. ==References==