New Modigliani Owned by a Belgrade Native
Previously unknown Portrait of a Man by Amedeo Modigliani will be exhibited in Serbia for the first time.
Previously Unknown Modigliani Owned by a Serb from Belgrade
German news agency DPA reports that a previously unknown painting by the celebrated Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) was on Tuesday reported by Belgrade city officials and international experts to have been found in the possession of a Serbian man living abroad.
The owner of the painting — an art collector and Belgrade native who wished to remain anonymous — wanted both the announcement about the painting and its first exhibition to be held in his home city.
According to the reports, the painting, a portrait of an as yet unknown man, dates back to 1918 and is of public importance.
Experts believe the man in the painting was either a musician or writer, judging by his hairstyle and clothing.
Both Serbian experts and several from the Modigliani Institute Paris-Rome and an atomic physics institute in Rome confirmed the authenticity of the painting.
1918 Modigliani Painting to be First Exhibited in Serbia
“It took us 17 years to verify the authenticity and I can now say for certain that it is Modigliani,” said Christian Parisot, president of the Modigliani Institute Archives Legales Paris-Rome during the press conference held in Belgrade.
That the news confirming the authenticity of the painting was to be first announced in the Serbian capital was an explicit wish of the owner. The press conference was also attended by the director of the atomic physics institute from Rome and the director of an Italian Culture Institute in Belgrade.
According to Ksenija Prodanovic reporting from Belgrade, the canvas measures 46 x 38 cm (18 x 15"), and shows a neatly dressed, wealthy young man with carefully combed hair. Experts said the oil colors had been watered down, a sign that the artist, regarded as one of the seven greatest painters, was living on meager means at the time of the work.
“The identity of the model is still unknown, but we are hoping that somebody will recognize it, once the painting is presented,” Parisot added.
During the press conference, Belgrade city hall official Dragana Zeljkovic said the owner specifically asked for the painting to be shown for the first time in Belgrade. It is expected to be exhibited some time in November.
The owner has revealed that he will not sell the valuable painting and will make it available for presentation elsewhere, after the first showing in Serbia. Finally, he will donate the precious work of art to his country, Serbia.
Comments
Hmmmmm. How fascinating! They've been looking into the authenticity of this painting for 17 years and the world hasn't even known that it exists, all that time? I wonder if we'll ever find out who the owner is and what other artworks he might own.
Posted by: Blackbird | September 27, 2007 08:57 AM