Amedeo Modigliani

Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (July 12, 1884 – January 24, 1920) was an Jewish Italian painter and sculptor. Modigliani was born in Livorno, Tuscany and began his artistic studies in Italy before moving to Paris in 1906 where he began to create his unique style, influenced by the artists in his circle of friends, primitive art, but standing apart from them stylistically. Sick most of his life, he partook of alcohol and drugs, and was a philanderer; he died at the age of 35.

Experiments with sculpture

In 1909, Modigliani returned home to Livorno, sickly and tired from his wild lifestyle. He did not stay in Italy long and soon he was back in Paris, this time renting a studio in Montparnasse. He originally saw himself as a sculptor rather than a painter, and he began sculpting seriously after Paul Guillaume, an ambitious young art dealer, took an interest in his work and introduced him to sculptor Constantin Brancusi.

Related Topics:
1909 - Studio - Montparnasse - Paul Guillaume - Constantin Brancusi

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Although a series of Modigliani's sculptures were exhibited in the Salon d'Automne of 1912, he abruptly abandoned sculpting and focused solely on his painting.

Related Topics:
Salon d'Automne - 1912

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In Modigliani's art, there is evidence the influence of primitive art from Africa and Cambodia which he may have seen in the Musée de l'Homme. His interest in African masks shows in the treatment of the sitters' faces in his portraits. The sitter's faces appear ancient, almost resembling ancient Egyptian painting in their flat and masklike appearance, with distinctive almond eyes, pursed mouths, twisted noses, and elongated necks.

Related Topics:
Africa - Cambodia - Musée de l'Homme - African masks - Egyptian

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Among his works is the portrait of his hard-drinking friend Chaim Soutine plus portraits of many of his other Montparnasse contemporaries such as Moise Kisling, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Marie Marevna Vorobyev-Stebeslka, Juan Gris, Max Jacob, Blaise Cendrars, and Jean Cocteau.

Related Topics:
Chaim Soutine - Moise Kisling - Pablo Picasso - Diego Rivera - Marevna - Juan Gris - Max Jacob - Blaise Cendrars - Jean Cocteau

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At the outset of World War I, he tried to enlist in the army but was refused because of his poor health.

Related Topics:
World War I - Army

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