The Modigliani Affair

Incoming Editorial Team·Verified October 23, 2026

Livorno, summer 1984. Three sculpted heads emerge from the water. The art world hails them as authentic works by Modigliani. The only problem is: they are fakes. This is the incredible story of a hoax that spiraled out of control. The story of a fraud. The story of a death under circumstances that were never fully explained. One of the greatest art scandals of all time. One of the most intricate mysteries in the history of art—and, at the same time, a crystal-clear example of how a beautiful lie can always overpower, and be preferred to, any reality.