PRESENT DAY EXPERTS
This is the beginning of the twilight zone.
Any expert can make mistakes and sometimes they are exposed in public by other experts, but in the case of Modigliani it is almost bordering on delinquent manners & behavior.
The "BIG" ones one day fight in public, have lawsuits and hate each other and the next day are collaborating as if nothing had happened (Like "Big Brother", with millions of euros involved).
Fights only help to make it even darker and gloomier, they all say that the others are fakers and similar things so Modigliani gets harder and harder each day (so the price increases and the artist's oeuvre becomes a taboo for all the museums and other experts).
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One of their main issues is that information they claim to have is secret and they never show the documentary support to explain what they did.
Some claim their Moral ownership, other talk of science (without giving public light to the study) and others are just there waiting to see what happens...
They all talk of the catalogue raisonné, but some of them are so expensive and limited in editions that they are almost impossible to get a copy of, or even to read in a public library (even in the big ones).
So if you want to get your copy of any of them be ready to spend 500 USD minimum to get a used copy and that does not mean it is exact. They reserve the right to change, add or delete works so you have to be vigilant at all times (an impossible task of course).
Here you can find a comprehensive list of them and useful information on each one:
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1.- Christian Parisot / a.k.a. Archives Legales Amedeo Modigliani / Modigliani Institute
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· Italian-french art historian, collaboration with Jeanne Modigliani during years.
· Claims that he inherited from her the "moral right" to handle name, licensing, work & expertise.
· Condemned for forgery and false certificates.
· President of the archives Amedeo Modigliani in Rome, many commercial works, LINK.
· Large list of collaborators many experts in the "school of Paris" work with or very close to.
· Typical art expert "connoisseur" style (his word is more valuable than any other fact).
· Not trusted by the main Auction houses.
· In open fight with Marc Restellini / Wildenstein Institute.
· NOT SURE: one of the experts who recognized as work by Modi the fake Livorno sculptures.
· Plays at being a victim of the other experts and evil collectors.
· Unknown number of paintings listed (by me, he probably knows it).
· PRICE OF CR: complete: $ 1,200 USD 2nd hand, accessibility is quite difficult.
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2.- Marc Restellini / Wildenstein Institute
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· French art historian.
· At present director of the Pinacotheque (a private museum in Paris of "unknown" ownership).
· In the past considered as a possible solution, now has become just one more.
· Published diverse books but no CR for the moment (cancelled drawings, but still giving numbers).
· He claims to use science, but acts in a typical art expert "connoisseur" style.
· Not trusted by the main Auction houses, so he works usually with 2nd grade ones.
· In open fight with Parisot / Archives legales/Institute Modigliani and Osvaldo Patani.
· "It will be published this year" common answer to when his Catalogue raisonné will be printed.
· He informed he will list 400 paintings when his catalogue sees the light.
· Plays at being a victim of the other experts and evil collectors. |
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3.- Osvaldo Patani
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· Italian art historian.
· Art critic devoted to italian design & italian artists.
· Published drawings CR / Paintings CR / Sculptures CR.
· His main success was the Paul Alexandre collection publications.
· In 1999 he said he was not going to work on Modigliani CR any more.
· Not trusted by the main Auction houses.
· In his catalogation we find the same mistakes as Ceroni, so he gives his word as good with no questioning.
· Accused in 1991 by Parisot of fake drawings.
· Presently collaborates with Parisot as part of the "scientific comitato".
· In open fight with Marc Restellini / Wildenstein Institute.
· Listed 349 paintings.
· PRICE OF CR: complete: $ 1,700 USD 2nd hand.
· Accessibility is almost null, very rare in Europe. |
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4.- Carlo Pepi
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· Italian Art collector
· Devoted to italian 19th/20th ct art (italian artists).
· No CR publications but on his page there is some sort of electronic CR.
· He claims to have discovered the 3 lost sculptures of the Livorno Joke.
· In open fight with Parisot / archives legales, he even doubted in newspapers that Jeanne died in an accident.
· Not known by the main Auction houses.
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5.- Experts of the Parisot group (they worked together, or in close relation with the museum montmartre or the Galerie Roussard.
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· Sylvie Buisson........................................................ Archives T. Foujita (almost a clone to the Modigliani ones).
· Nadine Nieszawer ................................................ Expert in the "School of Paris".
· Thérèse Castieau-Barielle.................................. Published on Modigliani using Parisot data & files.
· Guastalla Brothers............................................... Editors of Parisot, owners of birth house in livorno.
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6.- Kenneth Wayne
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· Born in Southern California and spent many years in Europe.
· He is some sort of "star" curator.
· He created one of the best exhibits on Modi named "Modigliani and the Artists of Montparnasse" in 2002-2003
· Albright-Knox Art Gallery/ Kimbell Art Museum/ Los Angeles County Museum, which was seen by several hundred thousand people.
· His book on the exhibit and all the info he gathered for it is probably one of the best works on the artist.
· As far as I know, doesn't certify or expertise works, interested in the work itself, not in the commercial side.
· Used by Sotheby's & Christies as reference not to expertise or certify. |
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7.- Victoria Soto Caba
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· Spanish University art historian (UNED).
· Published "Modigliani, the ageless face", no CR of any kind.
· Doesn't certify or expertise works, interested in the work itself, not in the commercial side.
· Used by Sotheby's & Christies as reference not to expertise or certify. |
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8.- Greta García Hernández
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· Spanish Technician and scientist from the IVAC+R (Valencia gov. Inst. preservation cultural heritage).
· Created the largest Database in Modigliani pigments, X-ray and infra-red images.
· Various publications on Modigliani, no CR of any kind.
· Doesn't certify or expertise works, interested in the work itself, not in the commercial side.
· Not known by the main Auction houses. |
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9.-Gonzalo-Millán del Pozo Portillo
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· Spanish expert & writer.
· Not a classical expert in terms of university, but knows more about Modigliani than many others all put together.
· Various publications on Modigliani, no CR of any kind.
· Probably the most interesting and revealing one: "Modigliani inédito, Univ. Complutense".
· Was the expert who called the police about the Hébuterne forgeries exhibited by Parisot.
· Not known by the main Auction houses. |
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THE ONES I TRUST:
The ones I trust are the last 3, all from Spain & K. Wayne.
Why? really can´t tell, choose your option:
1.- Because I live here.
2.- Because the art market in Modigliani here is zero.
3.- Because there is not a single painting on exhibit all over the country.
4.- Yes to first 3 options and because the work by Wayne deserves it.
you can guess ...
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