Previously unknown Modigliani painting found in Serbia

A previously unknown painting by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) was on Tuesday reported by Belgrade city officials to have been found in the possession of a Serbian man living abroad. The owner of the painting - an art collector and Belgrade native who wished to remain anonymous - wanted the announcement about the painting and its first exhibition to be held in his home city. The work, a portrait of an as yet unknown man, dates back to 1918 and is presumably of public importance. Experts believe the man in the painting was either a musician or writer, judging by his hairstyle and clothing. Both Serbian experts and several from the Modigliani Institute Paris-Rome and an atomic physics institute in Rome confirmed the authenticity of the painting. It is expected to be exhibited for the first time ever in Belgrade some time in November. dpa ga bve