Frank Burty Haviland is a distinguished drawing created by the Italian master Amedeo Modigliani in 1915. This work captures the artist's friend and important patron, Frank Burty Haviland, a noted art collector and writer active in the Parisian artistic milieu. The portrait was executed during the crucial years of Modigliani's mature development, firmly placing it within the early modernist period spanning 1901 to 1925. The choice of medium is graphite on paper, a material utilized by the artist for his rapid, intimate studies; the paper has subsequently been laid down onto a support for long-term preservation.
Modigliani’s characteristic stylistic markers are immediately recognizable in the subject’s presentation. Rather than employing heavy shading or intricate textural detail, the artist relies on elegant, sweeping lines to define the contours of the head and the curve of the neck, a technique that draws attention to the purity of the form. The sitter’s face is rendered with the slight elongation favored by Modigliani, often simplifying features to emphasize structure over realism, reflecting influences derived from African masks and Cycladic sculpture. The graphite medium allows the artist to achieve a highly sensitive and intimate rendering, underscoring the psychological depth of the subject beneath the surface composure.
By 1915, Modigliani, an expatriate Italian working primarily in Montparnasse, had honed his unique approach to portraiture, establishing himself as a vital figure in the School of Paris. The intensity of the subject’s gaze in this drawing suggests the deep personal connection shared between Burty Haviland and the artist, reflecting their engagement within the avant-garde circles of the time. This significant work, Frank Burty Haviland, is part of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the historical nature and age of the drawing, high-quality prints and references are often made available through institutions supporting public domain access to historical art.
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