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Amedeo Modigliani
July 5, 2024

Amedeo Modigliani

This attention-getting and recently much-copied oil on canvas was thought by its owner and those who viewed it to be a splendid original Modigliani portraying his lover, wife, and favorite model, Jeanne Hebuterne. Theirs was a relationship for the ages – she committed suicide when he died so she could be buried with him. Modigliani passed when he was relatively young, but he was a prolific painter and produced many works, especially many versions of Jeanne. Most of them are in museums. This particular piece has several gallery certificates verso that suggest its authenticity as does the old canvas on which it is painted. It can be viewed where it hangs in the great stately home described in www.phgmag.com/mediterranean-masterpiece. It also appears to have been subsequently copied although, perhaps, they are versions from the varnishing sale or commissions. The executor does not know who owned it previously or how it was acquired. But it must be sold to settle an estate. If forensics subsequently authenticates it as the original it will be worth millions instead of thousands. Partial ownership with full possession is possible if the buyer will agree to have the painting sold by Sotheby’s when Sotheby’s begins accepting forensics as proof of authenticity in lieu of Sotheby’s current requirement of a perfect provenance.

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