X-ray reveals hidden figure beneath Modigliani's Portrait of a Girl at Tate
An intriguing discovery was made through X-ray analysis at Tate Modern, uncovering a hidden female figure beneath Amedeo Modigliani's 1917 artwork 'Portrait of a Girl'. Curator Nancy Ireson speculated that this figure could represent Beatrice Hastings, Modigliani's former partner, with whom he had a turbulent relationship that ended in 1916. Ireson described the revelation as 'fascinating', emphasizing how rare it is to find underlying images in altered canvases. The Tate is currently showcasing the largest Modigliani retrospective in the UK, featuring over 100 pieces, including censored nudes from 1917. Additionally, the Tate has collaborated with HTC Vive to offer a virtual reality tour of Modigliani's final Paris studio, 'The Ochre Atelier'. In 2023, a retrospective in Genoa was canceled due to questions about authenticity.
Key facts
- Tate Modern discovered a hidden female figure under Modigliani's 'Portrait of a Girl' (1917) using X-ray technology.
- The hidden figure may be Beatrice Hastings, Modigliani's former lover and muse.
- Nancy Ireson, Tate curator, called the discovery 'fascinating' and noted the rarity of reading underlying images.
- The Tate is hosting the largest Modigliani retrospective in the UK, with over 100 works.
- The exhibition focuses on Modigliani's nudes, including those censored in 1917 at Berthe Weill's gallery.
- A VR experience of Modigliani's Paris studio, 'The Ochre Atelier', is available via HTC Vive headsets.
- A 2023 Modigliani exhibition at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa was closed early due to authenticity doubts raised by collector Carlo Pepi.
- The Genoa scandal led to an investigation, three suspects, and visitor refunds.
Entities
Artists
- Amedeo Modigliani
- Beatrice Hastings
Institutions
- Tate Modern
- Tate
- HTC Vive
- Palazzo Ducale
- Berthe Weill
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Livorno
- Paris
- France
- Genoa
- Italy