A Superb “Jeanne Hebuterne” by Amedeo Modigliani

This is an impressive circa 1917 oil of Jeanne Hebuterne The great home where it has most recently resided can be viewed at Mediterranean Masterpiece – Phoenix Home & Garden. It appears to be an early version of the many paintings Modigliani did of Jeanne – because her eyes are not complete, as he was traditionally wont not to do until he felt he fully understood the person he was painting. Their relationship grew into a great and tragic love affair – when he died relatively young she committed suicide so she could be buried with him. There is a Chenue Emballeur certificate verso identifying it as a Modigliani. Most importantly, there is also a certificate verso identifying it as part of the great collection of Mary and Leigh Block. This suggests that it was one of the Modigliani’s the Blocks were known to have collected and then subsequently sold to help fund and endow the great Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University. The painting’s impressive and ancient frame may well be the original frame. This magnificent painting is worthy of a museum or a very fine home. An investor has indicated a willingness to pay part of the purchase price with the buyer having full possession if the buyer will agree to have it forensically analyzed and sold when Sotheby’s begins accepting forensics as proof of authenticity.