Lot 1: Italico Brass (Italian, 1870-1943)

Italico Brass (Italian, 1870-1943)
A shrine on the Venetian lagoon
signed 'I Brass' (lower left)
oil on canvas
14¼ x 22½ in. (36.3 x 57.1 cm.)

THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE JOSEPH McCRINDLE SOLD BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTORS (LOTS: 1-4)

Joe McCrindle's life was dedicated to publishing, travel and collecting. In many ways his interests were interconnected, and the items offered for sale by his executors reflect this. Born in New York, Joe first travelled to Europe as an infant and was always someone who seemed to be planning his next trip, until his extended illness prevented travel. Collecting antiquarian books as a child, he soon moved on to original illustrations by artists such as Cruikshank and Rowlandson. His great-grandfather, the American artist Henry Mosler, had formed a distinguished collection of old master paintings and drawings, as had Joe's grandmother, Edith Feder. Joe moved into the same field, acquiring works in the United States, London, Rome (where he kept a home for a period in the 1960s) and on his European travels. Other interests developed later, including 19th Century drawings and 20th Century British Art.

As a publisher Joe will be best remembered as the editor (and major funder) of The Transatlantic Review, in which he promoted the best of short story writing, poetry and reviews from Europe and America. Writers featured included Muriel Spark, Harold Pinter and Phillip Roth. As a collector Joe was remarkably generous, with donations of major paintings to be found in many public collections, most notably the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, the Princeton University Art Museum and the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven. The majority of his UK estate will benefit the work of The Friends of Friendless Churches.

Andrew Martindale
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.