Modigliani WWI Portrait Smashes Estimates, Sells for €10.6 Million | Sotheby's Paris Bidding Battle
•March 8, 2026
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Why It Matters
The record‑breaking sale signals robust demand for early modernist masterpieces, reshaping price expectations for Modigliani and comparable artists worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- •Modigliani portrait fetched €10.6 million, surpassing estimates in Paris auction.
- •Auction started at €4 million, climbing rapidly amid competition.
- •Buyers remained anonymous, highlighting high‑net‑worth collector interest globally.
- •Sale reinforces strong demand for early‑20th‑century European art.
- •Record price may lift valuations of comparable Modigliani works worldwide.
Summary
Sotheby's Paris auctioned a 1915 Amedeo Modigliani portrait of Raymond Radiguet, a rare WWI‑era work, which closed at €10.6 million, far above the €4‑million opening estimate.
The hammer began at €4 million and quickly surged past €6 million as bidders Thomas Bompard and Alex Brunch entered the room. The live chant recorded in the transcript shows the price climbing in €500,000 increments, ultimately reaching the €10.6 million final figure, underscoring fierce competition.
Auctioneer Amédéo highlighted the painting’s cubist‑phase significance, noting its “very beautiful portrait” status. Bidders remained anonymous, a common practice in high‑value European sales, while the rapid escalation reflected strong collector appetite for Modigliani’s early works.
The result reinforces the resilience of the early‑20th‑century art market and sets a new benchmark for Modigliani pieces, likely prompting higher pre‑sale estimates and attracting further institutional and private capital to similar auctions.
Original Description
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