Portrait of Clara Fasano

Object Details

Artist

Joseph Stella, born Muro Lucano, Italy 1877-died New York City 1946

Sitter

Clara Fasano

Execution Date

Stella drew his friend Clara Fasano on numerous occasions, creating casual studies and posed portraits such as this bold, formal image. Her fashionable hat, flowing black veil, and dramatic red lips and scarf clearly place her in the 1940s. The strong outlines of her face and jacket suggest a self-assured, modern woman. One of America’s foremost modernist artists, Stella retained strong ties to his Italian roots as well as to the traditions of the old masters. Even when drawing his friends, he preferred a strict profile view, reminiscent of the early Italian Renaissance tradition.

Graphic Masters II: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2009

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

1943

Object number

1973.32.2

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Drawing

Medium

pastel on paper

Dimensions

sheet: 27 1/8 x 15 in. (68.9 x 38.1 cm)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Graphic Arts

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Portrait female\bust

Record ID

saam_1973.32.2

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7a82736aa-74e0-478d-8a45-fa97336574ac