

The drawing was discovered in Bridport, Vermont, stored for decades in a barn, and retains its original oval frame with period glass. It has since been carefully cleaned and backed with acid-free archival board. Medium: Charcoal on heavy artist paper. 17 x 23 inches framed.
Frame: Original early-20th-century wood veneer with convex glass. Condition: Excellent vintage condition, light toning consistent with age. Provenance: Documented and preserved by Randall Robert (South Burlington, VT, 2025).
Both a work of art and a deeply personal remembrance created amidst the turmoil of war. The Dardanelles reference ties this piece to the. Gallipoli and Eastern Mediterranean theaters.
The subject matter - a mother and child rendered with devotional reverence and classical technique - fits with early 20th-century European and Near Eastern portrait traditions inspired by Madonna and Child iconography. The emotional tone and inscription suggest this was created as a personal remembrance gift, likely to a comrade, perhaps in gratitude or farewell during wartime service. WWI art, charcoal drawing, Madonna and Child, R.
Alexanian, 1917 Dardanelles, World War I memorabilia, antique oval frame, early 20th century por.