artist.shtml biography john-gregory

Artist Name


birth5/17/1879 in London, EnglandPicture of Gregory
death1958
parents
education
awards

John Clements Gregory was born in London in 1879 but his family emigrated to the United States when he was only 12 years old. He began his sculptural studies at the Art Students League in New York City and continued them at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and at the American Academy in Rome. At various times he studied with J. Massey Rhind, George Grey Barnard, Hermon MacNeil, Gutzon Borglum, Herbert Adams, and Antonin Mercié. He became a United States citizen in 1912 and during the First World War served in the camouflage section of the U.S. Navy.

In 1927 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member and became a full Academician in 1934. In 1932 Gregory produced 9 marble bas reliefs for Paul Cret's Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. Each panel depicted a scene from a different play by Shakespeare.

Gregory is well known for his architectural sculpture. Examples include bas relief panels on the structure and sarcophagus of the Huntington Mausoleum by architect John Russell Pope at The Huntington Library in San Marino, California. In 1937, he completed a gilded bronze of Anthony Wayne, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Gregory was a member of the National Sculpture Society, the American Federation of Arts, and the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design. He died in 1958.

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You can click on the medals to see the reverse.

  • Cere's Blessing 1939
    by John Gregory
    SOM-20.1
    Gold-plated
    SOM-20.4
    Silver

    This medal was chosen as the 20th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1939. The obverse bears the goddess Ceres in profile right. Around, CERES BLESSING SO IS ON YOU. Below, JG © 39. The reverse bears the blooming rose with two bees. Around, SCARCITY AND WANT SHALL SHUN YOU.

    The reported production quantity of this medal is 937.

    SOM-20.1
    Bronze
    73.0mm (2.87in)
    Gold-plated
    THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS TWENTIETH ISSUE JOHN GREGORY - SCULPTOR
    MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. GOLD PLATED
    SOM-20.2
    Bronze
    73.0mm (2.87in)
    Golden bronze with very light tan patina
    THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS TWENTIETH ISSUE JOHN GREGORY - SCULPTOR
    MEDALLIC ART CO.-DANBURY,CONN
    SOM-20.3
    Bronze
    73.0mm (2.87in)
    Golden bronze with very light tan patina
    THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS TWENTIETH ISSUE JOHN GREGORY - SCULPTOR
    MEDALLIC ART CO.-DANBURY,CT.-BRONZE
    SOM-20.4
    Silver
    73.0mm (2.87in)
    THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS TWENTIETH ISSUE JOHN GREGORY - SCULPTOR
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American Art Medals, 1909-1995 by David Thomason Alexander
David T. Alexander's book can be purchased at the above link. Highly recommended for anyone interested in SOM. I am deeply indebted to him for all the information I used to document the SOM medals on this site.

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