Female Bust in Red, 1915
Amedeo Modiglianiexpand_more
Red gouache and black ink washexpand_more
Bequest of Putnam Dana McMillanexpand_more 61.36.22
Not on Viewexpand_more
In Paris, where he moved in 1906 from his native Italy, Amedeo Modigliani stood out from the ebullient avant-garde with his mysterious, long-necked portraits—paintings of arresting solemnity. From 1911 to 1913, he explored stone sculpture, creating a series of geometric heads inspired by African masks. Poor health forced him to abandon the labor of direct carving, but the feel and gesture of sculpting resurfaced in Female Bust in Red, along with memories of a much earlier art. Here the forms are condensed into solid blocks, and the vigorous brushstrokes seem to mimic the chisel’s blows. The head bows with silent elegance in a modern echo of Gothic Sienese paintings depicting the Virgin Mary.
Details
- Title
- Female Bust in Red
- Artist Life
- 1884–1920
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 61.36.22
- Provenance
- Sale, Galerie Charpentier, Paris, March 24, 1955, no. 207, to Brame; [Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, Paris, 1955]; [César Mange de Hauke, New York, 1955; sold, July 5, to McMillan]; Putnam Dana McMillan, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Minneapolis (1955–d. 1961; bequeathed to MIA)
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Parisot 2012, no. 41/1915
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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