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Sir Desmond MacCarthy

(1877-1952), Writer and critic

Sitter in 23 portraits
Literary journalist. A gifted conversationalist, he was a member of the Apostles at Trinity College, Cambridge and began his journalistic career as a contributor to The Spectator. He was a friend of Bertrand Russell, Thomas Hardy and Henry James, and was invited by Roger Fry to become secretary for the first Post-Impressionist exhibition. Although he refused to see himself as a member of Bloomsbury, he was a founding member of the Memoir Club in 1920, and a regular at Fitzroy Square parties. His output as a critic was prolific and highly respected.

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(Lloyd) Logan Pearsall Smith; Mary Berenson (née Smith); Sir Desmond MacCarthy

by Unknown photographer
bromide copy print, 1932
NPG Ax161115

Sir Desmond MacCarthy

by Henryk Gotlib
pencil, circa 1939-1945
NPG D13576

Sir Desmond MacCarthy

by Hubert Leslie
cut paper silhouette, 1920s-1940s
NPG D515

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Related People

Rachel (née MacCarthy), Lady David Cecil (daughter)
Dermod MacCarthy (son)
Michael MacCarthy (son)
Mary ('Molly') MacCarthy (née Warre-Cornish), Lady MacCarthy (wife)

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Places

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Sir Desmond MacCarthy