Artist: Andrey Avinoff. (1884 – 1949). Russian - American entomologist and artist. He is best known as Director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh PA) from 1926 to 1946. The brother of the artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff. Being a scientist, researcher of butterflies, Avinoff collaborated with Vladimir Nabokov, a famous Russian author and collector of butterflies too.
Title: Portrait of William Frederick "Bull" Halsey Jr. (1882 – 1959). One of four fleet admirals in the entire history of the United States Navy.
Dimensions: 9" x 6 1/2". Frame 15 1/2" x 12 1/2".
Date: c. 1944.
Materials and Techniques: Ink drawing on University Club stationary, matted and framed. Frame with easel back.
Provenance: The Avinoff Estate.
Condition: good. The sheet was sent by mail, and subsequently bears two traces of foldings. Unexamined outside of frame.
Signed twice in pencil and in pen l.r. Auto signed W. F. Halsey l.l.
Inscriptions: The logo of the University Club Pittsburgh 13 PA at the top. "31 December 1944. Dear Mr. Avinoff: In accordance with your request, Admiral Halsey has asked me to forward to you, your sketch of him which now shows a copy of his signature".
Museums: Some of Avinov's works are in The Smithsonian American Art Museum.