Academic Study – Presumed Portrait Of Franz Liszt (?), Italian School, Circa 1870

Academic study in charcoal, black chalk and sanguine depicting a man in profile with long hair and an intense gaze.
The sitter bears a strong resemblance to the composer and pianist Franz Liszt, although neither the identity of the model nor the original prototype can be established with certainty.

The drawing is distinguished by the contrast between the grey-black tones of the garment and the warm rust-brown highlights of the hair, characteristic of a carefully executed academic study.

The paper bears the “MONGOLFIER” watermark, from the renowned paper mill of Annonay, whose papers were widely used for artistic and academic drawing throughout the 19th century.

The sheet comes from a group of drawings preserved in an old Tuscan residence, including academic studies, architectural drawings and anatomical studies. Several works from the same group, executed on comparable papers and using a similar technique, make it possible to date this drawing to around 1870.

Dimensions: approximately 50 × 33 cm. Good overall condition.