Modigliani sculpture – fetches a fortune

Tete by Modigliani

Amedeo Modigliani is primarily known as a  painter. He is known to have produced about 27 pieces of sculpture though.  The latest piece to be sold is a 65cm sculpture, made of Limestone and called ‘Tete’ has snapped up at a Paris auction for a mere 43.2 Million!

The sculpture was from the GastonLevy collection.  He acquired it in 1927.   The artist took up sculpture due to ill health apparently, though I would think sculpture was more hazardous to the lungs and health than paint, due to the dust involved. The sculpture was first seen at the Salon d’Automne exhibition in Paris in 1912. 

The auction

It’s always useful to see the scale of these types of sculptures for me as I am hopeless at metric measurements:) imperial yes, I can understand – but not metric for some reason – probably too much conditioning.

I would say that his sculptures follow in the elongated style of his paintings and also have the Picasso mask like  influences of Les Demoiselles d’Avignon .

going going gone

Modigliani had a short (1884 -1920) and turbulent life.  His life as an artist is stereotypical of the romantic misunderstood, starving in a garret and railing against the world kind of artist we love, like Van Gogh.   Sadly Modigliani  only lived until he was  35  and died of Tuberculosis.

Tete image from here and here

Modigliani short biography here

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Happy Birthday Dear Pablo Picasso!

Pablo Picasso

Today is the birthday of probably one of the most famous  modern  artists, Pablo Picasso (or to give him his real name – Pablo Diego JoseFrancisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso).  Most people called him Picasso…… and no wonder!

La Celestina from Blue period

Picasso born in Spain 1881 – 1973 founded the Cubist movement.  This painter, sculptor and draughtsman was the most innovative artist of his time.  His paintings were always talking points and controversial.  The artist is also known for his different coloured ‘periods’ e.g.  Blue period, (1901 – 1904)  in which the artist’s depicted beggars, prostitutes and mournful subjects.  Whereas the Rose period is more cheerful period, with circus’s, Harlequins’ and comedy (1904 – 1906)

Les Damoiselles d;Avignon

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is probably (along with the Weeping Woman and Guernica) one of Picasso’s famous works.  This painting was based on the artist’s fascination with African masks and Primitive art. Picasso developed Cubism (1909 1912)  with fellow artist Georges Braque.  By analising shapes, dissecting them then re assembling them, Picasso was able to create new compositions and perspectives.  Picasso’s preoccupation with Cubism was not met with enthusiasm by most critics at the time.  Undaunted, he carried on exploring this new art form. This period was to last from 1907 to 1917, quite a long time for Picasso.

Guernica Picasso

  Picasso remained neutral regarding the first and second World Wars  and also the Spanish Civil War, refusing to fight or support either side on principle.  Guernica however depicts the German bombing of this Basque city  in the Spanish Civil War and is one of Picasso’s famous works.  ‘The Weeping Woman’ adds a poignant farewell to this period.

picasso-weeping-woman-1937 based on Dora Maar

Picasso’ famous symbol ‘The Dove of Peace’ was produced for the World Peace Congress in 1949.  There are many versions of this symbol and it is still used internationally. Picasso’s personal life has been much documented.  He had two wives, four children by three women and many mistresses.  Each of these relationships inspired paintings and periods.  There’s an interesting website HERE  that shows the paintings with their muses.

Fantastic amount of his paintings and life story HERE

Other artist’s birthdays I have wrote about;

Rubens

Gauguin

Leonardo da Vinci

Hart Benton

Turner

Van Gogh

Morris

Pollock

Chagall

Kahlo

Modigliani

Degas

Hopper

Duchamp

Hogarth

Beardsley

Munch

Hepworth