Currently not on view

Two studies for sculpture head in profile to left,
ca. 1912–13

Amedeo Modigliani, 1884–1920; born Livorno, Italy; died Paris, France

x1948-387

Quickly sketched on a folded notebook page, these two drawings belong to a large group of studies for Modigliani’s limestone sculptures of heads and caryatids, most of which he made before the spring of 1913. The upside down, more minimal profile on the right preceded the fuller, more elaborate profile on the left. In their pronounced pendulous chins, razor-sharp noses, and extremely narrow eyes, these sketches closely resemble the radically stylized Head now in the Tate Gallery, generally dated to 1912–13. The crossed-out inscription in the lower right corner appears to read “Jane Eyre,” a reference to Charlotte Brontë’s novel of 1847, which the artist may well have read, given his wide ranging literary interests.

Information

Title

Two studies for sculpture head in profile to left

Dates

ca. 1912–13

Maker

Amedeo Modigliani

Medium

Pen and black and brown ink

Dimensions

21.2 × 27.1 cm (8 3/8 × 10 11/16 in.) frame: 43.2 × 55.9 × 2.5 cm (17 × 22 × 1 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Dan Fellows Platt, Class of 1895

Object Number

x1948-387

Inscription

Inscribed recto (by the artist), bottom right, in black ink (erased by black crayon): Jane Eyre;

Culture

Italian

Type

drawings, studies (visual works)

Materials

wove paper, ink

Techniques

squaring (transferring technique)

Subject

men, heads, figures (representations)

Modigliani: A Retrospective (Friday, February 26, 2016 - Sunday, June 05, 2016)

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Citation

Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920; born Livorno, Italy; died Paris, France), Two studies for sculpture head in profile to left, ca. 1912–13. Pen and black and brown ink; 21.2 × 27.1 cm, 43.2 × 55.9 × 2.5 cm (frame). Bequest of Dan Fellows Platt, Class of 1895 (x1948-387) https://artmuseum-beta.princeton.edu/art/collections/objects/50323?field_tms_obj_subjects_target_id=471

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Two studies for sculpture head in profile to left,
ca. 1912–13

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Caballo prieto azabache (Jet-Black Horse) ,
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Head ,
1000–500 B.C.

Pasquale Paoli

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Two studies for sculpture head in profile to left, ca. 1912–13

Information

Bibliographic Entries

Exhibition History

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