Reclining Nude on Blue Cushion

Reclining Nude on Blue Cushion (French: Nu Couché au coussin Bleu) is an oil on canvas painting by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani created in 1916.[1] The painting is one of the dozens of nudes created by Modigliani between 1916 and 1919.

Reclining Nude on Blue Cushion
ArtistAmedeo Modigliani
Year1916
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions60.1 cm × 92.1 cm (23.7 in × 36.3 in)
OwnerDmitry Rybolovlev

Description

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The nudes of this period are "displayed boldly, with only the faintest suggestion of setting.... neither demure nor provocative, they are depicted with a degree of objectivity. Yet the uniformly thick, rough application of paint—as if applied by a sculptor's hand—is more concerned with mass and the visceral perception of the female body than with titillation and the re-creation of translucent, tactile flesh".[2] Simultaneously abstracted and erotically detailed, they exhibit a formal grace, referencing nude figures of the Italian Renaissance while at the same time objectifying their subjects' sexuality; they "exemplify his position between tradition and modernism".[2]

Provenance

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In 2012, the painting was acquired by Russian businessman and collector Dmitry Rybolovlev from billionaire Stephen Cohen of S.A.C. Capital Advisors for $118 million.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Zampetti, Chiara (2015-11-03). "What Makes Modigliani's Nu Couché Worth $100 Million?". Artsy. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  2. ^ a b Klein, Mason (2004). "Modigliani Against the Grain". In Klein, Mason (ed.). Modigliani: Beyond the Myth. New York: Jewish Museum. p. 21. ISBN 0-300-10264-X. OCLC 53896598.
  3. ^ "Art: A market laid bare". Financial Times. 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2021-03-20.