After nearly three decades of legal disputes and intense research, Marc Restellini has finally published his definitive catalogue raisonné of Amedeo Modigliani’s oil paintings. Released through the Institut Restellini and Yale University Press, the six-volume work utilizes forensic scientific analysis, spectrometry, and archival evidence to authenticate the artist's oeuvre. The publication includes 100 newly authenticated works while excluding 15 previously accepted paintings due to a lack of definitive evidence, marking a shift from connoisseurship to a fact-based methodology.
This release is considered an "atom bomb" for the art market because Modigliani is one of the most forged artists in history, with his works regularly fetching over $150 million at auction. By establishing a rigorous new standard for authenticity, the catalogue will likely cause dramatic shifts in the valuation of works excluded from its pages. It aims to bring stability to a field long defined by warring experts and high-stakes litigation, providing a scientific foundation for the artist's legacy.