How are you?
Modigliani Institute Korea (MIK) is
currently introducing artworks of Amedeo Modigliani one by one every week.
The 62nd work to introduce for this
week is “Portrait of Constant Lepoutre” in 1916.
This work is an expressionist style
portrait and an oil painting on a canvas with the size of 92 x 65 cm, and is
kept in a private collection in Paris.
The model for this work, Constant
Lepoutre, was a famous Parisian framer and art dealer. He became acquainted
with Modigliani's work in November 1916 through an exhibition of Modigliani's
works, organized by Modigliani's friends Kisling and Ortis de Zarate. Impressed
with Modigliani's talent and sympathetic with his financial situation, Lepoutre
decides to help Modigliani financially.
Regarding Lepoutre’s support,
Modigliani said, “He provides me with the equipment and the model, gives me 20
francs each time and always leaves a quarter of rum for me on the table.
Lepoutre is a gentleman,” and he praised for his care and generosity. In return, Modigliani painted this
portrait and asked Lepoutre to wear a yellow jacket and a black work hat.
However, since Lepoutre's family
did not appreciate this work, Lepoutre gave this painting to Zborowski, who is
Modigliani's friend and art dealer with 100 francs, and he, in turn, sold it to
Roger Dutilleul. This work also became the first of Modigliani's works collected
by Dutilleul over a long period, especially avidly collected between 1918 and
1925.
Roger Dutilleul, Amedeo Modigliani (1919)
Modigliani's use of pale, chalky
colors in his works is mainly associated with his stay in Southern France in
1918, but can sometimes be seen in his earlier works. The pale colors used by
Modigliani in this work give the painting a blurry and faint appearance, and
these effects give a feeling, suggesting fading appearance of old Lepoutre.
Modigliani's request for wearing the yellow jacket may have been due to further
emphasize the fading old Lepoutre’s look.
For Modigliani, who asked a lot of
requests to paint this portrait, Lepoutre may have been somewhat offensive, and
such requests may have been one of the main reasons his family did not
appreciate this work.
Thank you.
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