26 7/8 × 6 1/4 × 9 1/2 in. (68.3 × 15.9 × 24.1 cm)
Weight: 75 lb. (34 kg)
Classification:
Sculpture
Credit Line:
The Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls Collection, 1997
Accession Number:
1997.149.10
Not on view
After meeting Constantin Brancusi, in 1909, Modigliani began to carve in stone, resulting in about twenty-five known sculptures. These abstracted, elongated heads had a significant stylistic impact on his subsequent figure and portrait paintings. It is fitting that this work, with its strong connection to African sculpture, was originally owned by French artist Frank Burty Haviland, whose famous collection of African art Modigliani knew well. Modigliani’s sculptures also reflect his knowledge of ancient Cycladic, Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, and Oceanic art.
Inscription: Incised on rear side of neck: MODIGLIANI
the artist (1912–18; sold in 1918 to Haviland); Frank Burty Haviland, Paris (1918–28; sold in 1928, through the Galerie Zborowski, Paris, to private collection); private collection, Nice (from 1928); [Perls Galleries, New York; stock no. 13817]; Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, New York (until 1997; their gift to MMA)
Paris. Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées. "Salon d'Automne," October 1–November 8, 1912, nos. 1211–1217 (one of "Têtes, ensemble décoratif").
Paris. Lyre et palette, la Salle Huyghens. "1re exposition: Kisling, Matisse, Modigliani, Ortiz de Zararte, Picasso," November 19–December 5, 1916 (possibly one of nos. 21–24, as "Figure") [see Ref. Parisot 2012].
Paris. Galerie Devambez. "Exposition de peinture moderne," January 27–February 12, 1920, no. 65 (as "Tête de femme") [possibly this work].
Martigny. Fondation Pierre Gianadda. "Modigliani," June 19–October 28, 1990, no. 18 (as "Tête de femme," ca. 1913, lent by Perls Galleries, New York ).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Painters in Paris: 1895–1950," March 8–December 31, 2000, extended to January 14, 2001, not in catalogue.
Florence. Museo degli Argenti. "Memorie dell'Antico nell'arte del Novecento," March 14–July 12, 2009, no. 5.
Bernard Schuster. Modigliani: A Study of His Sculpture. Jacksonville, Fla., 1986, pp. 44–45, 49, 57, 88, no. XXV, ill. pp. 49, 80, 88.
Pierre Cabanne. "Modigliani, sculpteur." L'Oeil 419 (June 1990), pp. 54–59, ill. p. 55, nos. 3–5.
Osvaldo Patani. Amedeo Modigliani: Catalogo generale. Vol. 2, Sculture e Disegni, 1909–1914. 1992, p. 64, no. 24, ill. (color and bw), calls it "Grande testa".
Massimo Bertozzi inMemorie dell'Antico nell'arte del Novecento. Exh. cat., Museo degli argenti. Florence, 2009, pp. 104–5, no. 5, ill. (color).
Christian Parisot. Modigliani: Catalogue raisonné. Vol. 5, [Poggibonsi?], 2012, pp. 148–49, no. XXVIII/ XXX, ill. (color), calls it "Grande tête" and dates it 1911.
Artist: Attributed to Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, Livorno 1884–1920 Paris)Date: ca. 1917Medium: Graphite and watercolor wash on thick paperAccession: 1975.1.380On view in:Not on view
Artist: Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, Livorno 1884–1920 Paris)Date: ca. 1914–15Medium: Pen and ink with wash on graph paperAccession: 1975.1.379On view in:Not on view
Artist: Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, Livorno 1884–1920 Paris)Date: ca. 1914–15Medium: Pen and ink with wash on graph paperAccession: 1975.1.378On view in:Not on view
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