author
Towry Piper
A noted British museum director and art writer, he brought a wide knowledge of painting, architecture, and cultural history to a broad general audience. His books are known for making serious art and places feel approachable and alive.
1 Audiobook
Violin tone and violin makers
by Hidalgo Moya, Towry Piper
About the author
Born in 1918, David Towry Piper built a career that joined scholarship with public life. He became an important figure in the British museum world, serving as director of the National Portrait Gallery, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and later the Ashmolean Museum, while also writing extensively about art, architecture, and historic places.
Alongside his museum work, he wrote and edited books for general readers, helping introduce subjects like English painting, London, and European art to people outside specialist circles. His writing is often remembered for being clear, informed, and welcoming rather than academic for its own sake.
Piper was honored with a knighthood and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He died in 1990, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both deep knowledge and a real gift for sharing it.