The Spoils of War

My parents, on the far wall of their sitting room, have a small oil painting. It shows a hill in the distance with a few houses in the foreground. Above the hill a storm cloud passes, otherwise the sky is blue. The light, and the village in the foreground is unmistakably Italian, the treatment English.

I have always loved this painting because it shows the heroic ability of my great-uncle, the artist, to live a life untroubled by world events. The hill was Monte Cassino. The storm cloud was literal rather symbolic. It is estimated that 25,000 people died in the battle.

On my desk, ready to go into our October auction is one of his violins. It was made two years before the picture was painted. 1943 it seems, found my great-uncle in the Western desert making a violin out of ammunition boxes.

Speaking entirely selfishly, if I were serving alongside my great-uncle then I would prefer him to be a little less abstracted, and if landing with him in Italy, I can’t imagine the violin would have been much use in action. But, 80 years after the events, I am deeply thankful that somebody like him decided that there was no better time to add to the good things in the world, while all events were conspiring to destroy them.

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David R Buchanan’s violin is Lot 71 in our October Specialist Auction and can be viewed HERE.

Our Specialist Auction finishes on the 29th and 30th October.

To view the full catalogue please visit https://app.amati.com/en/auction/1127-amati-specialist-29th-30th-october

We are delighted to offer London viewing appointments in our new office alongside our usual two day viewing at The Langham.

Amati London

10A Chandos Street, W1G 9DQ
(just opposite The Langham)

London Viewing

Friday 24th & Saturday 25th – by appointment at Chandos Street

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th – at The Langham, 10am to 5pm

Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th – by appointment at Chandos Street

For auction and viewing enquiries please email [email protected]