Rome-based Christian Parisot, one of two rival art historians working on Amedeo Modigliani catalogues raisonnés, was arrested after a two-year investigation by Italian antiques and forgery squads.

Parisot is the president of the Modigliani Institute in Rome and was secretary to Modigliani’s late daughter, Jeanne.

Police seized 59 works allegedly falsely attributed to Modigliani, and reportedly valued at over €6.65m.

Another researcher in Paris, Marc Restellini, is preparing a separate catalogue raisonné on the artist.

It could be years before the artist's oeuvre is correctly documented as the Modigliani market is rife with fakes.

Italian-born, French-based Modigliani (1884-1920) is known for his modernist portraits, nudes, and figurative works with elongated faces. His work now brings into the tens of millions of dollars. He had only one solo exhibition during his lifetime and died penniless in 1920.