In 1919, Alberto Santos Dumont offered a large autographed portrait to the manager of the Ritz Carlton in Buenos Aires.
Large format portrait featuring Alberto Santos Dumont with a dedication to Pierre Gavuzzi.
In Spanish.
20.5 cm x 25.7 cm.
1919, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Good condition conservation, although it shows some marks of an old frame.
Unique piece.
Hello Sir Cav. Pierre Gavuzzi I remember Santos=Dumont
Pierre Gavuzzi was a charismatic hotelier who opened the Victoria Falls Hotel in Africa in 1904 and took over the management of the Ritz Carlton in Buenos Aires in the 1920s. It was at this luxurious hotel that Santos Dumont stayed in 1919, at the age of 46, during a tour in Argentina. The world-famous aviator planned several flight demonstrations in the Argentine capital and other cities in the country. His demonstrations aroused great interest, helping to popularize aviation and inspire new generations of pilots.
Several points caught my attention in this portrait found in France:
Santos-Dumont's pose, full of pride! By 1919, the aviator was already suffering from depression and portraits of him from 1918 onwards usually show a sad man who looks older than his years. I had never seen this photograph and have not discovered who the photographer is, but it says 'Property Campbell Studio New York', which was one of the celebrity portrait studios active in the 1900s.
In addition to being one of the most beautiful photographs of Santos-Dumont I have ever seen, the large format is also very rare: there are very few large photographs of the aviator, and the condition of this one is excellent.
Santos-Dumont's extensive dedication, in large script and with his famous impeccable signature. One can sense that he had great respect for Pierre Gavuzzi, who probably made Santos-Dumont's stay in Argentina as easy as possible, providing all the comfort and support the aviator needed.
Documents and autographs by Santos Dumont from this Argentine tour rarely appear on the market.
Finally, this portrait with dedication is, without a doubt, one of the most exceptional documents of Santos-Dumont that I have ever had in my hands.
