Lot Essay
A photo-certificate from Marc Restellini of the Wildenstein Institute dated Paris, 8 February 1999 accompanies this painting.
The present work, painted in Paris in 1917 when Modigliani was ending his affair with Beatrice Hastings and beginning a relationship with Jeanne Hebertune, represents the Polish woman, Elena Povlovzky, believed to be a member of the Montmartre intellectual circle. Leopold Zborowski, the Polish entrepreneur who became Modigliani's dealer, may have introduced Povlozky to the artist. Modigliani painted one other portrait of Elena Povlozky which is in the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. (Ceroni, 1972, no. 168). The present painting and its subject have been compared to Picasso's celebrated portrayal of Gertrude Stein: both sitters share a forthright masculine demeanor.
The present work, painted in Paris in 1917 when Modigliani was ending his affair with Beatrice Hastings and beginning a relationship with Jeanne Hebertune, represents the Polish woman, Elena Povlovzky, believed to be a member of the Montmartre intellectual circle. Leopold Zborowski, the Polish entrepreneur who became Modigliani's dealer, may have introduced Povlozky to the artist. Modigliani painted one other portrait of Elena Povlozky which is in the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. (Ceroni, 1972, no. 168). The present painting and its subject have been compared to Picasso's celebrated portrayal of Gertrude Stein: both sitters share a forthright masculine demeanor.