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.

Legacy

Modigliani's sister in Florence adopted their 15-month-old daughter, Jeanne. As an adult, she wrote a biography of her father titled, Modigliani: Man and Myth.

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In 1984, Livorno authorities searched a river in the city with hopes of finding sculptures that, according to a popular legend, Modigliani threw in during a violent attack of rage. A couple sculptures were found, and an art critic deemed them authentic. Later it was discovered that the sculptures found had been produced by three boys with a Black & Decker.

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His sculptures rarely change hands and the few paintings that change hands can sell for more than $15.6 million. His Nu couché (Sur le côté gauche) sold in November of 2003 for $26,887,500. Recently, a painting of Jeanne Hebuterne sold in June of 2005 for £3.25m.

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$ - November - 2003 - June - 2005 - £

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