The discovery of a lost masterpiece is always a popular read. However, the story becomes headline news when the painting is by no other than Amedeo Modigliani. The portrait was purchased from an antique market in Mans in 2010 by the Italian collector and entrepreneur Paolo Guzzini, and it was due to his perseverance that the picture has now been authenticated and added to the Modigliani catalogue raisonné.
Intrigued by a stamp on the back of the canvas from a Montmartre workshop—Guzzini paid several thousand euros for the unsigned portrait, unaware of its true provenance. Fifteen years later, after meticulous research and analysis, the work has been officially attributed to Amedeo Modigliani, the Italian artist known for his elongated faces and bohemian allure.
The painting, now confirmed by the Modigliani Foundation in Rome, is believed to date from the early 1900s, a pivotal period in the artist’s career. It depicts Mario Cavaglieri, a friend of Modigliani whom he met in Venice, and is thought to be one of the first portraits the artist created after moving to Paris in 1906. This was when Modigliani’s distinctive style emerged, making this discovery a significant addition to understanding his artistic oeuvre.
The authentication was not straightforward. Guzzini, intrigued by the stamp on the back of the canvas, enlisted the help of art critic Alberto Mazzacchera to investigate further. Chemical analysis of the pigments revealed that the materials used were consistent with those available to artists in early 20th-century Paris—low-quality paints that Modigliani, like many of his contemporaries, would have used. The final breakthrough came from the Modigliani Foundation, which cross-referenced archival documents to confirm the sitter’s identity and the painting’s authenticity.
The portrait, now part of Guzzini’s private collection, is more than just a rare find; it’s a glimpse into Modigliani’s formative years in Paris. Montmartre, the city’s bohemian heart, was a melting pot of creativity, and Modigliani quickly became one of its most compelling figures. Known for his sensual nudes and haunting portraits, he lived a life as dramatic as his art, marked by passion, poverty, and tragedy. His death at 36 from tubercular meningitis, followed by the suicide of his partner Jeanne Hébuterne, cemented his status as a “cursed” genius of the avant-garde.
This newly attributed work enriches Modigliani’s reputation and shows how extraordinary art can surface in unexpected places. While its market value remains to be determined, although Artlyst experts put it in the region of £800K – £1m, its historical and artistic significance is undeniable.
Guzzini, for his part, is not resting on his laurels. The collector is now working to establish a foundation dedicated to promoting art and culture, with its headquarters in Recanati, the birthplace of Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi. The initiative aims to become a hub for scholars, collectors, and art enthusiasts, ensuring that stories like this inspire future generations.
The discovery was officially announced in the sixth volume of the Modigliani Archive, presented in San Marino last December. For Guzzini, it’s the culmination of years of perseverance—an example of the exhilaration of the hunt and the enduring power of art to surprise and intrigue.