Portrait of Heinrich Benesch, c. 1924

The senior trailway official and art collector Heinrich Benesch (1862–1947) was a devoted patron of contemporary art, particularly that of Egon Schiele (1890–1918), who he was also friends with. Compositionally, the Portrait of Heinrich Benesch, painted by Gerhart Frankl (1901–1965) around 1924, conforms to the traditions of portraiture. With a stern, focused gaze, the earnest-looking elder gentleman with a moustache and goatee is seen sitting in front of a playful, swiftly brushed green wallpaper with red ornaments. His elegant attire, black suit and a Homburg hat, are immediately evocative of high social status and affluence.

RR, 2021