Spring News from The Modigliani Initiative

March 28, 2023

How do You Solve a Problem Like Modigliani?

Self-portrait, 1919, Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de Sâo Paulo

Over a century after the artist’s death, the full extent of Modigliani’s oeuvre has not been satisfactorily resolved. Our latest Spotlight story proposes that “The Modigliani Problem” can be resolved by the willingness to engage in transparent collaboration across scholarly disciplines. The integrity of Modigliani’s legacy depends on it. Discover the essay here.

Exciting News!

We are thrilled to announce that Julie Martin has joined the Board of The Modigliani Initiative. Julie Martin is an independent scholar and co-author of Kiki’s Paris: Artists and Lovers 1900–1930, a seminal account of the art community in Montparnasse during the early twentieth century. Read more here

Launch of Auction Research Project

Auction catalogue of Eugène Descaves Collection, March 28, 1919, Hôtel Drouot, Paris. Link to catalogue here

Many historic auction catalogues are available in the public domain, either through in-person visits to libraries or online access of digitized copies. We are excited to announce the launch of our new Auction Research Project, in which we meticulously extract information related to Modigliani’s works from these catalogues. We are attempting to identify lots that are not reproduced, and trace, where possible, the sellers and buyers. This detailed information complements the provenance, exhibition, and publication records that we already have in our comprehensive digital database of Modigliani’s paintings.

Recent Publication on Montparnasse

Mathyeu Le Bal has published the latest book on Montparnasse in which he highlights both the more and lesser known painters, sculptors and photographers who were active in early twentieth century Montparnasse. Foreword by art historian Jeanine Warnod.

Montparnasse. Quand Paris éclairait le monde is published by Éditions Albin Michel, Paris (2022). Here is a link

Please help us spread the word about The Modigliani Initiative. We are grateful for your support.

Leslie Koot I Julie Martin I Julia May Boddewyn

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