Art

Portrait of Modigliani

Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani was born in 1884 and began his painting career at age 14. A sickly child, he began sculpturing in 1902, later attending the Venice-based Reale Istituto di Belle Arti.

In 1906 he moved to Montmartre, Paris, and attended Academie Colarossi. Early works such as Portrait of Anna Zborovska, Bride and Groom, and Gypsy Woman with Baby, were products of a great influence of Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, Theophile Alexandre Steinlen, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

In 1909, Modigliani met the accomplished sculptor Constantin Brancusi. They both settled in the artist colony area of the bohemian city Montparnasse. With the guidance and influence of the kindly crafter, Brancusi Amedeo Modigliani concentrated on creating magnificent sculptures until 1914. He also completed a number of paintings and drawings during that time as well.

The bulk of Amedeo Modigliani’s paintings were completed between 1916 and 1919 – vibrant wonderful works such as Portrait of Madame Hayden 1918, Nudo Disteso, and Portrait of Anna Zborosvka.

Although Modigliani was to find two supportive dealers he struggled for public attention, displays, and sales during his lifetime. Between 1914 and 1916 he was represented by Paul Guillaume, and then for the year 1917, Leopold Zborowski was his agent. The only solo show Modigliani was ever given, however, was in December 1917 at the Galerie Berthe Weill.

Modigliani was to meet his true love, lifelong companion, and model in March of 1917. He and Jeanne Hebuterne lived with him in Nice and then in Cannes, finally returning to Paris in 1920. Amedeo Modigliani died in Paris on January 24, 1920.