Painting worth millions Cheap flea market find turns out to be a genuine Modigliani
An Italian collector buys a painting on the art market in Le Mans, France - and only discovers years later that it is an original by the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- Italian collector Paolo Guzzini discovered a painting at a flea market in Le Mans, France, which turned out to be a real treasure.
- It is now clear that it is an original by the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, who died in 1920.
- Modigliani, known for his melancholy portraits with elongated proportions, received little recognition during his lifetime.
- Today, Modigliani is one of the art stars of the late 19th century.
What began as an ordinary visit to a flea market turned out to be a sensational purchase for the art world:
Italian collector Paolo Guzzini purchased a painting 15 years ago at a market in Le Mans, France - now it is clear: it is an original by Amedeo Modigliani.
Guzzini suspected that his purchase could be something special. "I was impressed by the stamp on the painting, which referred to a studio in Montmartre that was frequented by many famous artists," he explains to the Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino.
A portrait with a special story
Curious, the collector went in search of further information and had the work examined by the renowned Modigliani Foundation.
Analysis of the canvas and color composition finally confirmed the authenticity of the painting. According to the foundation, the work depicts Mario Cavaglieri, a close friend of Modigliani's who hosted the artist in his youth.
The discovery could be of enormous value: Other Modigliani works have achieved sale prices of up to 160 million euros at auction.
Modigliani is famous for his unmistakable portraits
Amedeo Modigliani, who lived from 1884 to 1920, was an Italian painter and sculptor who is best known for his unmistakable portraits and nude paintings.
His works are characterized by elongated proportions and mask-like faces, which are characterized by a melancholic mood.
Born in Livorno, Italy, Modigliani studied ancient and Renaissance art before moving to Paris in 1906. There he came into contact with artists such as Pablo Picasso and Constantin Brâncuși and was inspired by African and Cycladic art.
Although he received little recognition during his lifetime, his works are highly valued today and fetch prices in the millions at auction.
