保罗·亚历山大肖像

Before Modigliani was Modigliani, a young doctor believed in him. Paul Alexandre, a Paris dermatologist, became the painter's first patron around 1907, buying drawings by the hundred and paintings when he could, at a time when almost no one else was interested. This portrait, from 1913, is the last of three that Modigliani painted of him. It was also nearly the end of their friendship, though neither man knew it. In August 1914 Alexandre was called up and sent to the front, and the two never worked together again. Alexandre kept everything. His huge cache of early Modiglianis stayed out of sight in the family until long after his death, when his son finally brought it to light.