Artwork
Monsieur Deleu
Monsieur Deleu is an oil painting by Amedeo Modigliani. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1916, this oil on canvas presents a seated gentleman in a modest interior.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait by Amedeo Modigliani, the piece utilizes standard oil paints applied to a woven canvas support.
Executed in 1916, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 81.1 cm in height and 46.7 cm in width. As a portrait by Amedeo Modigliani, the piece utilizes standard oil paints applied to a woven canvas support.
The composition reflects the artist's approach to the portrait genre during the mid-1910s, characterized by the specific dimensions and material choices recorded for this entry in the National Gallery of Art's collection.
History & Provenance
Monsieur Deleu is an oil portrait painted by Amedeo Modigliani in 1916. It entered the Paris trade in 1927 when Marcel Bernheim et Cie sold it to Etienne Bignou, and the work was acquired by Chester Dale in April 1928. Dale later bequeathed the canvas to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains in the institution's collection.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It entered the museum in 1963 as a bequest from Chester Dale, who had acquired it on 18 April 1928. Prior to Dale's ownership, the work had been handled by Marcel Bernheim et Cie and Etienne Bignou in Paris, with Bignou purchasing it in 1927 before selling it to Dale. No specific accession or inventory number is provided in the sources. Exhibition history is not documented in the given sources.
Overview
Created in 1916, this oil on canvas presents a seated gentleman in a modest interior. The figure wears a brown jacket, dark trousers, a white shirt and a bow tie, set against a muted gray wall. The composition focuses on the sitter’s elongated visage and restrained posture, offering a calm, contemplative presence.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures an unnamed man, identified only by the title, in a moment of quiet introspection. His composed expression and simplified features suggest an emphasis on inner character rather than external detail, inviting viewers to consider the personal essence behind the formal attire.
Artist & collection
Artist
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (US: ; Italian: ; 12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the École de Paris who worked mainly in France.
