Attributed to Yuri Annenkov (Russian, 1889-1974), Portrait of director Vsevolod Meyerhold

Attributed to Yuri Annenkov (Russian, 1889-1974) Portrait of director Vsevolod Meyerhold, a prominent Soviet avant-garde theatre director  Signed in monogram and dated lower left, '1920' Pencil on paper Extensively inscribed verso  Provenance: Sothebys, 2 December 2004, bt. £29,980 Lot Essay: "There is nothing out of period for a date of 1920 for the paper used for this drawing. The paper appears to be the same 1916 white wove Whatman drawing paper used for the Meyerhold portrait sold at Sotheby’s in November 2012. The speed, ease and certitude of the handling of the graphite and the nature of the individual marks in this drawing are also very similar to the handling of the graphite in the drawing sold at Sotheby’s in November 2012. Both are extremely powerful and sharp and in excellent condition. The drawing does not appear to be an imagined version of the 1922 picture, from a slightly different angle, rather another drawing by Annenkov, done from life." Peter Bower From the estate of Marcello Violante  Dimensions: (Frame) 34 in. (H) x 30 in. (W) (Paper) 18 in. (H) x 16 in. (W)