Abel Jamas, “Portrait of Chopin”, c.1938, after Delacroix

Abel Jamas (1862–c.1940)

“Portrait of Chopin” (aka “Frédéric Chopin”), c.1938, after the unfinished painting by Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863), “Portrait of Frédéric Chopin and George Sand”, 1838—note that this painting was later cut in two so that the each section could be sold separately with the portrait of Chopin now in the Louvre (Paris) (see https://www.wikiart.org/en/eugene-delacroix/frederic-chopin-1838).

Etching and engraving on cream wove (Japon) paper with wide margins and a remarque of a man’s face facing to the front with curled long hair and a pointed beard.

Regarding the remarque (the tiny etching of a rather gaunt head with its Van Dyck styled “goatee” shown below the main image), I believe that the subject may be a likeness of Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849), or at least, as the artist (Abel Jamas) imagined him. This idea (and it may be very flawed) is based on my understanding that Chopin suffered alopecia areata on the left side of his face. Going further, from my close examination of the image, only half a beard is shown and it is on Chopin’s right side. This stylistic arrangement of a half beard seems correct (for me), mindful that Chopin’s interest was all about his right side as that was the side his audience saw during a performance.

Size: (sheet) 55.8 x 43.8 cm; (plate) 39.8 x 29.9 cm; (image borderline) 33.2 x 26.8 cm.

See descriptions of this print offered by the Louvre and the Athens School of Fine Arts : https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl020529818 & https://digilib.asfa.gr/s/library-eng/item/2543.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with generously wide margins in an excellent (near pristine) condition.

I am selling this large, rare and fascinating portrait of Chopin, with a tiny portrait remarque in the margin that may (if I am right and there is no certainty about this) show Chopin with a half-beard/“goatee” on his right side owing to his inability (because of a medical condition [alopecia areata]) to grow facial hair on his left, for AU$314 in total (currently US $205.54/EUR 191.45/GBP 164.24 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous portrait, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.