‘Amedeo Modigliani’ Musée de l’Orangerie

Paul Guillaume and Modigliani on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice, 1918 – 19

Parisian art dealer Paul Guillaume first met Amedeo Modigliani in 1914 though the poet Max Jacob and the following year he became his principal gallerist. This exhibition displays many of Modigliani’s artworks that either passed through the gallery of Guillaume or that were promoted by him; as well as photographs and documents that testify to their relationship. Both men had separately developed an interest in African art, Guillaume as a dealer and the influence of African masks can be clearly seen in Modigliani’s art and it is, therefore, unsurprising that their mutual interest would bring dealer and artist together.

Modigliani had originally been trying to make a career for himself as a sculptor but was now devoting himself to painting. It is believed that Guillaume rented a studio for Modigliani on rue Ravignan in Paris and the exhibition contains photographs of the two men posing in front of paintings hanging on the studio wall. Modigliani painted and drew his dealer several times in 1915 and 1916 and three such paintings are included in the exhibition.

Amedeo Modigliani ‘Paul Guillaume’ (1916)

Over one hundred paintings as well as drawings and sculptures by the artist are said to have passed through Guillaume’s hands. These included portraits of notable figures in Paris at the time such as Max Jacob, Jean Cocteau and Moïse Kisling, but also of unknown models, as well as women who shared the painter’s life. The latter included the writer Béatrice Hastings and the young painter Jeanne Hébuterne, who was the mother of his child and his final companion.