227 Delmar Ave., Sarasota, FL 34243

WHERE ART RULED...1925 Mediterranean Revival . The Residence is known for the 1947 purchaser Everett "Chick" Austin.... The father of the Ringling Museum, creator of the Asolo Theatre, and known throughout the art world as the man who brought modern art to America. Locally Austin's "the guy who almost single-handedly turned sleeply little Sarasota into a major arts capital, as all the artistic flurry going on today can be tracked back to Chick Austin and to his house "Villa Cirque". Located West of Trail on rare .79 of an acre, the residence features "two of the most beautiful rooms in Sarasota- the 40 foot long classically detailed Ball Room and an adjacent enclosed porch with green Chinese Chippendale motifs", museum worthy and both designed by Austin. The acre garden features Koi pond with Bogota, separate guest house, 50' pool, formal planting and several banyan trees. Considered one the most significant 1920's homes in Sarasota, Austin's house guests included Bette Davis, Prince Rainier, Gypsy Rose Lee and Dame Edith Sitwell. Austin's "cool factor made Sarasota an exotic place to visit for the arty, international set of 40's and 50's".