Modigliani's muse : Jeanne Hébuterne

gentle, quiet, shy and delicate

Jeanne met Modigliani when she was eighteen years old and she soon became his lover and muse. He painted her red hair, sinuous body and long neck many times.

He believed the only route to true creativity was through defiance and disorder

She became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. The couple were quite besotted with one another and Jeanne put up with Amedeo's hedonistic lifestyle, caring for him and supporting him. They were friends as well as lovers.

When she was nearly full term with their second child Modigliani died. Jeanne was completely heart broken and committed suicide by walking backwards out of a top floor window. Jeanne was only twenty-one years old.

Devoted companion to the extreme sacrifice.

Jeanne was also a very talented artist in her own right and one can only imagine what she might have produced if she had lived.

self-portrait by Jeanne Hébuterne




Jeanne painted by Modigliani



Modigliani portrait by Jeanne





April 6, 1898 – January 25, 1920

Jeanne

the tender light came before dusk

it turned my hair burnished red

swallows swooping in the gable

would soon be dead

when he was painting

I did not move

held by his restless gaze

only my lips and fingertips

would tremble at the anticipation

of each stroke that left

peach and pink oil paint

on my skin

and was my skin