Master Watercolors

Modigliani

Rare Modigliani watercolour to be offered at Bonhams

A beautiful watercolour executed in 1913 by the renowned Italian artist, Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, 1884-1920) will be sold in the Impressionist sale at Bonhams in New Bond Street on Wednesday 27 June 2007.

Set to fetch £350,000 - £450,000, the work titled “Cariatide” is produced in watercolour and pencil heightened with white on paper laid down on card.

Director of Paintings, Caroline Oliphant comments, “Bonhams is very pleased to be offering Cariatide 1913 in our June sale - this is an exceptionally lovely work. Modigliani produced numerous drawings, but a fully-worked watercolour is much rarer to see. It presents an opportunity for collectors to obtain a wonderful example of a classic Modigliani subject. ”

Modigliani (1884-1920) was born into a Jewish family in the Italian port town of Livorno. Unhealthy as a child, he ceased his formal schooling in 1898 and began to study art instead. The theme of the caryatid dominated Modigliani’s works in the years between 1910 and 1914. He believed he was first and foremost a sculptor, but failing health forced him to abandon this physically demanding medium in favour of painting and drawing after 1913 – the year this watercolour was made. Nonetheless sculpture remained a fundamental preoccupation with him and his drawings and paintings after 1913 continue to show his obsession with monumental figures and sculptural forms.

posted by P.S. @ 6:35 PM