Modigliani: A Painter and His Art Dealer

Discover the evolution of Modigliani’s art, through the prism of his relationship with his art dealer, Paul Guillaume.

This beautifully illustrated catalogue and its accompanying exhibition at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris demonstrate how Modigliani’s partnership with his gallerist Paul Guillaume influenced his painting. When Amedeo Modigliani arrived in Paris in 1906, the Jewish-Italian artist was a painter. His meeting with sculptor Constantin Brancusi in 1909 was a revelation, and inspired Modigliani to sculpt ― almost exclusively ― until 1914, when he met art dealer Paul Guillaume. The effects of this meeting were sudden and total. Modigliani would return to painting and never look back. This volume unveils the relationship that prompted this change through analysis of Modigliani’s paintings and Guillaume’s writings. With these resources at hand, the reader gains an intimate insight into this intriguing duo whose combined talents as artist and promotor left an indelible mark on the history of twentieth-century art. The book highlights their complicity and shared interests in African art, literature, and poetry.

About the Author:

Cécile Girardeau is a curator at the Musée de l’Orangerie. Simonetta Fraquelli is an independent curator and art historian. Yaëlle Biro is assistant curator of African Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Marie-Amélie Senot is a curator of modern and contemporary art.