Scandalous Modigliani Nude Expected to Sell for £65 Million

A trio of Modigliani nudes once caused a scandal during a solo exhibition of his work in Paris, 1917, and one of the three paintings at the center of that controversy is about to go on the auction block. Red Nude, seen above, is being released from a private Swiss collection and world renowned auction house Christie's expects the painting to fetch a record £65 million or around $100 million. 

According to Western Daily Press (link below), this sum will squash the previous record for a Modigliani and has the art world tightening their ascots and seeing which one of them can cast their nose highest in the air.

Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie's global president and chief auctioneer, yesterday (Fri) described the painting as one of the most important he'd ever dealt with.

He said: "There are a very small number of masterpieces that we dream of handling. This magnificent Modigliani has always been one of them.

"This powerful and noble female nude is a work of timeless beauty and one of the greatest works by the artist."

Well, that's not significantly hubristic enough. Is there anyone else at the organization who would care to puff up the rhetoric a bit?

Mariolina Bassetti, Christie's chairman and international director, Italy, added: "This is the painting that defines Modigliani."

And there you have it. Of course, once you've seen Orson Welles' F for Fake and heard the various stories about notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory, it's hard to know if this is the real deal or a fake. Either way, it's a gorgeous painting that's sure to be enjoyed for generations to come. 

Via Western Daily Press