Amedeo Modigliani: Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings (Art) [Hardcover]

Werner Schmalenbach (Author), Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1990 | Series: Art

Now available in an attractively priced, beautifully produced flexi edition, this important examination of Modigliani's art focuses on the elusive genius of the avant-garde. One of the most recognisable artists of his era, "Amedeo Modigliani" is also perhaps one of the least understood. In this thorough comprehensive, yet refreshingly concise volume, Werner Schmalenbach examines Modigliani's oeuvre, offering a chronological tour of every aspect of the artist's career. This informative commentary is complemented by hundreds of splendid reproductions, many of them full-page colour plates. The result is an intimate portrait of a life devoted to art and an essential reference for any art lover.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Schmalenbach, a prominent German art historian and museum curator, has written books on a number of major 20th-century painters. His studies of Chagall, Lager, and Klee are scholarly and authoritative. So, too, is this new work on Modigliani, an important but not fully understood modern artist. Schmalenbach's strongest purpose is to disentangle Modigliani from his reputation as hedonist. As one of the young bohemians, Modigliani did not receive acclaim for his art until well after his death in 1920. The author organizes his text and intellectual points very precisely, providing a chronological tour of the artist's development. Aided by excellent plates, he offers a tight, thoughtful examination that will surely provoke scholarly reaction and deduction from students and art historians. This work is a fine complement to the fact-gathering in Alfred Werner's Modigliani (Abrams, 1986). Recommended for specialized art collections in academic and museum libraries.
- Paula A. Baxter, NYPL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German, French, Italian

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Prestel (December 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 379131095X
• ISBN-13: 978-3791310954
• Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,694,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Do not read for true Modigliani facts, only opinion., April 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Amedeo Modigliani: Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings (Art) (Hardcover)

It is unfair of me to give a headline as above, and then write a paragraph of my opinion, but this is the necessary confines of our situation.

Modigliani's art is quite unique from all other art in Paris between 1900-1920. He was barely influenced by the other artists at the time. This is his strength. What the author of this book seems to want to prove is that Modigliani's work is somehow lessenned by its lack of innovativeness. Many of us disagree.


The author is also attempting to challenge well known truths of Modigliani's work. The author challenges Modigliani's worth as a sculptor and dedication to it. It is fairly widely known that Modigliani gave up sculpture because of health reasons, not dedication reasons.


The author also attempts to take Modigliani's art without taking in the effects of his life, so he has misunderstood Modigliani's nudes and sculpture as a whole.


I do not mean to say that the author is a poor writer, or even a poor art critic. He is a very poor judge of Modigliani, that is a fact. That is not just my opinion.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amedeo Modigliani: Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings, August 23, 2011

By 

robert c - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Amedeo Modigliani: Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings (Paperback)

Great book. Very informative and formatted. Lots of great color plates. You can't beat this book for the price at double the cost.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very colourful, April 3, 2010

By 

Mark Byrne "Artist" (Lacey, WA. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Amedeo Modigliani: Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings (Paperback)

This book reads and is written like a text book, but is surprising interesting and well written. I am engrossed in the history of Modiglani's life, beyond the drugs and alcohol abuse. The colour plates are excellent. A very good book.