head and upper torso of nude woman who looks down to PL in red

Female Bust in Red, 1915

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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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head and upper torso of nude woman who looks down to PL in red