Rating and value of Amedeo Modigliani's drawings

Painter, draughtsman, sculptor... Modigliani is a major figurative artist of the 20th century, a leading representative of the Paris School. A highly prized artist by collectors the world over, his high value continues to rise.

 If you own a work by the artist Modigliani or based on his work and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will guide you.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of the artist

Very little recognized during his lifetime but now acclaimed for his genius, Modigliani has established himself as a sure bet on the art market. His works are extremely sought-after and regularly reach auction records all over the world.

Despite his varied artistic output, his drawings are extremely highly valued by collectors and can sell for over €1 million, as evidenced by his pencil on paper Tête de Cariatide adjugated at €1,139,840 in 2016 at Christie's. 

Order of value from a drawing "after" Modigliani to an "authentic" drawing by Modigliani

The artist's works and style

First a painter, sculptor and then draughtsman, Modigliani's works are varied. 

Paintings by Modigliani are common in museums but rare in auction rooms. His characteristic portraits with stretched faces and livid eyes are highly sought-after, fetching several tens of thousands of euros at auction when a drawing is involved, and several tens of millions when an oil on canvas is involved.

As rare as his paintings, Modigliani's sculptures are extremely prized. The artist worked in numerous techniques, including bronze, marble, stone and copper.

His works in bronze remain the most common, and can exist in several copies. Sculptures made in stone, whether sandstone, marble or other materials, are considered rare and exceptional pieces, and their price can easily exceed the million euro mark.

Modigliani, one of the most highly-rated artists of the École de Paris 

Of Italian origin, Modigliani was born in Livorno in 1884.

He showed a choleric temperament from an early age, and was a pampered child especially by his mother, since he was ill from infancy. The latter raised him alone with his two sisters in Sardinia.

Myth and sources from the family's various diaries indicate that Modigliani discovered his vocation when he was in the grip of a psychic delirium after contracting typhoid fever.

He began by drawing portraits, an artistic genre that was to play a major role in his work, both in painting and sculpture. By the age of thirteen, he was already taking drawing lessons, supported by his mother. Not considering himself suited to school, he chose to enter the Beaux-Arts academy a year later, a decision that strongly displeased the rest of his family.

He was then the youngest student at the Beaux-Arts and trained alongside a landscape painter who moved away from academicism to seek more reality, and favored color over drawing. Here he met Gino Romiti, who taught him the art of the nude.

Despite his highly avant-garde style, he was greatly influenced by Gothic, Renaissance and Pre-Raphaelite painters. He was then fascinated by Naples and Pompeii, which led him in the direction of sculpture thanks to the discovery of archaizing sculptures at these sites.

From 1902, he attended the Free School of the Nude in Florence, then the School of Fine Arts in Venice. He led a rather decadent life, however, and said he preferred to work in cafés or brothels.

He spent time with Manuel Ortiz de Zarate, who introduced him to Impressionism and the caricatures of Toulouse-Lautrec, probably speeding up his arrival in Paris.

Learn more about his way of working

From 1906 onwards, he attended the Colarossi academy in Paris and spent lavishly, quickly running through his savings. He moved constantly and was regularly evicted from the apartments he occupied. Exuberant and alcoholic, he regularly provoked incidents: starting fires, regular arrests, his existence was far from calm and stable.

Little by little, a prisoner of his addictions, he could no longer create and paint without drinking or consuming narcotics. Many believe they stimulated his creative impulses and helped him unfold his genius. However, despite his financial difficulties, he retained a legendary charisma and generosity that left a lasting impression.

He invented " drawings to drink ", frequenting cafés, particularly those in Montparnasse  he portrayed people in exchange for a drink or money. It was also there that he met and befriended many avant-gardists : Cocteau, Kisling, Foujita, Survage, van Dongen, Braque ...

Modigliani knew many of the artists of his day and realistically painted portraits of many of them. He did not anticipate Post-Impressionism and his creative process was disrupted. He questioned himself and moved closer to cubism, being influenced in particular by Braque. He thus worked to achieve a synthesis of all the influences exerted on his art.

He managed to get himself exhibited in a few galleries and to organize a solo show in 1917 at the Galerie Berthe Weil. Then fleeing the end of the war, he went to work in Provence with Soutine, Zborowski (his dealer and supporter), Foujita and Jeanne Hébuterne, his companion.

Returning to Paris in 1919, he began to enjoy success with the public, but much less so with his declining health. He continued to paint until the end and refused treatment, dying in hospital at the age of 35.

The exponential price of Modigliani's drawings on the art market

Contrary to his paintings and sculptures, his drawings are fewer in number, making them all the more prized by collectors. Their intimate dimension and spontaneity further enhance their appeal. On the art market, this rarity, combined with the artist's tragic story - a life marked by illness, poverty, and a premature death at the age of 35 - lends his works a romantic aura that enhances their desirability.

Today, Modigliani's drawings are among the most sought-after and valuable works, as much for their aesthetic value as for their historical significance. They are emblematic testimonies to the Parisian avant-garde of the early 20th century, and continue to influence contemporary artists. It is this duality between avant-garde modernity and a deep respect for classical traditions that makes Modigliani's work a cornerstone of modern art history. 

Identifying his signature

Not all of Modigliani's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here's a first example of his signature:  

Expertise your property

If you own a work by Modigliani, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling out our online form.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your work signed Modigliani or after Modigliani.

If you are considering selling your work of art, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price for your work, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each object.