How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 59th work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Manuel Humbert Esteve” in 1916.
This work is an expressionist style
portrait and an oil painting on a canvas with the size of 100.2 x 65.5 cm, and
it is possessed by the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
National Gallery of Victoria
The model for this work is the Spanish
painter Manuel Humbert Esteve. Born in Barcelona, Manuel left his hometown of
Barcelona in 1909 and moved to Paris, France, where he presided over Catalan
painting exhibitions.
Modigliani, who had a natural
talent for expressing the model's personality and features in his paintings,
also described Manuel's appearance by focusing on the personality and features
of the model rather than drawing it similar to the real one. In other words,
the model's long and pointed chin, slightly curved small lips, eyes drooping
down, and the attire he is wearing are elements that show the model’s
personality and features emphasized by Modigliani.
The model of this work, with a
slightly gloomy appearance, gives a sense of the unique austerity of the
Iberians in the model’s appearance and expression, and this austerity is
further reinforced by the dark colored background. Also, the tilt of the model and the
left background is somewhat balanced with the right background.
This work turned out to have a very
thick oxidated varnish layer that completely changed its original color upon
investigation. Accordingly, the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia,
which owns the work, commissioned Dr. Raye Collins to restore the painting to
recover its original bright colors from 2017 to 2018.
Dr. Raye Collins with the Portrait of Manuel Humbert (Photo: Eugene Hyland)
This restoration is regarded as one
of the best restorations ever conducted. Due to this restoration, the original
colors of the work have been restored without losing their strong presence, and
the orange color that makes the work alive was perfectly restored.
This painting has holes in the 4
corners, half of which were covered by restoration.
Restoration (Before vs. After)
Modigliani, who frequently painted
the same model with same pose several times, left two portraits of Manuel,
including this one. Comparing the two works, they have the same background and
pose, and even the tie knot style of the model is almost identical, so it seems
that the two works were drawn one after another in a short period.
Bust of Manuel Humbert
Thank you.
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