Miles Davis Portrait Appraisal

Framed Portrait of Miles Davis by Irving Penn

This item is a square, framed black and white photographic print featuring an iconic close-up portrait of the legendary jazz musician Miles Davis, originally captured by photographer Irving Penn in 1986. The image depicts a highly stylized, high-contrast view of Davis’s face with his eyes closed and his hands pressing against his temples, emphasizing the texture of the skin and the intensity of the subject. The print is housed in a substantial, ornate black wooden or composite frame characterized by deep-relief baroque-style scrollwork and floral carvings. The frame has a matte to semi-gloss black finish that complements the monochromatic nature of the photograph. The construction appears sturdy, with the frame adding significant depth and a classical aesthetic to the contemporary photographic subject. No visible maker's marks or signatures are discernable in the image, though the style suggests a late 20th-century or early 21st-century decorative production. The condition appears excellent with no visible chips to the frame or fading to the print, though some minor dust accumulation may be present. This piece combines contemporary celebrity portraiture with traditional framing techniques, creating a dramatic visual impact suitable for specialized art collections or music memorabilia enthusiasts.