Amedeo Modigliani
Portrait of Léopold Zborowski

Public Domain

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Artist Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, 1884–1920)Italian, 1884–1920

CultureItalian

Titles

Portrait of Léopold Zborowski

Datec. 1916

PlaceParis, France

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsCanvas: 45 3/4 × 28 3/4 in. (116.2 × 73 cm)
Frame: 53 1/2 × 36 1/2 × 3 3/8 in. (135.9 × 92.7 × 8.6 cm)

Credit LineJohn A. and Audrey Jones Beck Collection, gift of Audrey Jones Beck

Object number98.292

Current Location

The Audrey Jones Beck Building

226 Beck Galleries

Exposé

Explore Further

Department

European Art, Beck Collection

Special Collections

Object Type

PAINTING

Provenance[Léopold Zborowski (Zalichtchyky, Poland, 1889–Paris, 1932), Paris, from the artist, c. 1916] [1]; purchased by Gösta Olson (Sweden, 1883–1966), Paris, likely by February 1918 [2]; [transferred to Svensk-Franska Konstgalleriet, Stockholm, by November 1920] [3]; [traded back to Léopold Zborowski, Paris, November 1920 ] [4]; purchased by Max Pellequer (1883–1974), Paris, by 1930 [5]; [Renou and Colle, Paris, after 1935, by 1948] [6]; Jacques Guérin (Paris, 1902–Luzarches, France, 2000), Paris, by 1970 [7]; [Sotheby's, London, "Impressionist and Modern Painting and Sculpture," 1 July 1970, lot 49, illus. in color] [8]; purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Beck, Houston, 1970; given to MFAH, 1998.

[1] A writer and poet, Zborowski met and began supporting Modigliani in 1916 and, in exchange for materials, models, and a regular stipend, Modigliani presented him with artwork to sell.

[2] Gösta Olson was a Swedish-born artist who lived in Paris and bought contemporary art, including paintings by Modigliani, from Zborowski. Olson left Paris in February 1918 to return to Stockholm and open a gallery. The Svensk-Franska Konstgalleriet opened in November 1918 and was in business until 1961. Christina Brandberg, “When French Dealers ‘Turned Their Eyes toward Scandanavia’: The Svensk-Franska Konstgalleriet in Stockholm,” in Christel H. Force, ed. “Pioneers of the Global Art Market: Paris-Based Dealer Networks, 1850–1950,” (London and New York: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2020), 159–70.

[3] In a letter written in early November 1920, Olson writes that he had traded several works, including “Le grand portrait de Sporowski (sic),” to Zborowski. (This portrait is the largest of Zborowski by Modigliani.) Letter from Olson to the Norwegian artist and art dealer Walter Halvorsen (1887–1972), dated 8 November 1920. Svensk-Franska Konstgalleriet (Stockholm, Sweden) records, Correspondence, 1918-1973, Getty Research Library. Special thanks to Leslie Koot, The Modigliani Initiative, for sharing this.

[4] Pfannstiel (1929) lists Zborowski as the owner.

[5] A banker and modern art collector, Pellequer may have acquired the work from Zborowski around 1929. He is credited as the lender to the exhibition in Venice held in May 1930. He is known to have sold works from his collection during his lifetime. For more on Pellequer, see Anna Jozefacka, "Max Pellequer," The Modern Art Index Project (January 2015, Revised by Lauren Rosati October 2018, December 2019), Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://doi.org/10.57011/ZXYW6521 (Accessed by Julia May Boddewyn, 12 Nov. 2024).

[6] The gallery of Maurice Renou (1885–1946) and Pierre Colle (1909–1948) opened in 1935 and closed after Colle’s death in 1948. During World War II, the gallery continued to operate and, in specific instances, is noted to have engaged in the selling of stolen works, some of which have been restituted. [https://agorha.inha.fr/detail/146-Accessed by Robert McD. Parker, 13 June 2024.]

[7] The source for Jacques Guérin’s inclusion in the provenance is unknown and has not been confirmed. Guérin’s mother Jeanne Guérin (1870–1965) was an important modern art collector. Jacques may have received this upon her death in 1965.

[8] The printed buyers’ sheet of Sotheby’s 1970 sale lists “K. J. Hewett” as the final bidder for lot no. 49, likely as agent on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Beck.
Exhibition HistoryLikely Galerie B. Weill, Paris, “Exposition des Peintures et des Dessins de Modigliani,” 3–30 December 1917, no. 2 or 24, as “Portrait du poète Z”

Venice, “XVII Exposizione Biennale Internazionale d'Arte: Mostra individuale di Amedeo Modigliani,” (Sala 31) May–June 1930, no. 26, as Ritratto de sig. Zborowski, Coll. sig. Max Pellequer, Paris.

"Amedeo Modigliani," Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York, 1971.

"The Collection of John A. and Audrey Jones Beck," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1974.

"Amedeo Modigliani," Kunstammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany, January 19–April 7,1991; Kunsthaus Zurich, April 19–July 21, 1991.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Original label from back of painting (now apparently lost) before painting was re-lined: "Coll on L. hberovski / 3, rue Joseph Bara / Paris No 1"

Signed recto, upper right: "Modigliani"

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