The Introduction of the Works by Amedeo Modigliani: 14. The Portrait of Paul Alexandre (1909)

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Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.

The 14th work to introduce for this week is “The Portrait of Paul Alexandre (1909)”.

This work is, a portrait of an expressionist style and an oil painting on canvas with the size of 100 x 81 cm, painted by Modigliani in 1909.

In the late 1907, a year after Modigliani moved to Paris, he was run out of money and was kicked out of his studio at Place de Jean-Baptiste Clement.

A painter and his friend, ‘Henri Doucet’, met with Modigliani at Lapin Agile and suggested to meet Dr. Paul Alexandre at Rue du Delta.

Paul Alexandre, a young dermatologist at the time, had rented a small house for his artist friends to rebuild after demolition at Rue du Delta.

Alexandre, who met Modigliani for the first time, was deeply impressed by his charm, talent and cultivation, and then continued to support Modigliani as his patron.

He also insisted on using only Modigliani's works to decorate the walls of the Delta house. 

Since Alexandre was a professional dermatologist at early career at the time, he had not enough money, but he became the only buyer of Modigliani for a long time.

It is remarkable that, as a dermatologist at early career, who was also struggling to secure clients for money, he supported Modigliani, who was then a completely unknown artist.

Modigliani had a characteristic of destroying his work, which was not satisfactory, after completing it.

However, Alexandre, as a friend of Modigliani, persuaded him not to destroy the work, and after Modigliani arrived in Paris, he commissioned Modigliani for the first time to help him.

These commissioned works include portraits of his family members such as ‘Jean Alexandre’ and portraits of friends such as ‘The portrait of a woman wearing horse riding suit’, which is also famous for the title "Amazon."

What is a noteworthy point in the work I introduce today is the background of the work.

It is “The Jewish Woman”, which is the first work Modigliani sold after he moved to Paris and purchased by Paul Alexandre.

Alexandre also requested Modigliani to paint “The Jewish Woman” as the backgrounds of three additional portraits he commissioned.

What stands out in Alexandre's appearance in this work is the long face, wide forehead, mustache, and white collar and sleeve.

Alexandre's face in this work is somewhat longer and exaggerated than his real face, and his appearance with his left hand in his suit’s pocket reminds of an elegant and noble aristocrat.

It is reminiscent of the paintings of the nobles of the Mannerism, a period of the 'late Renaissance', which were represented by artists such Bronzino during the 16th century.

It also shows the influence of ‘African art’ from the long face and appearance of Alexandre.

However the friendship of the two completely ended after the outbreak of the World War I, when Alexandre joined the army and served as a military doctor, after which the two never met again.

Thank you.