"Born in Livorno, Italy on July 12, 1884, Amedeo Modigliano, was the son of poor Jewish parents. After recovering from typhoid fever, he began formal art training when he was fourteen at the Art Academy in Livorno. He then studied art in Venice and Florence between 1902 and 1903. Modigliano moved to Montmartre, the artistic community of Paris, in 1906 where he developed the bohemian lifestyle
...see more » for which the area was known. He was part of a group of artists from around the world and his friends called him Modi. While in Paris he took drawing lessons at Academy Colarossi. In 1907 he sold his first portrait and that sale led to further painting commissions. He later became acquainted with the sculptor, Brancusi, and turned his talents to African head sculpture. His elongated sculptures were exhibited at the autumn Salon of 1912. Modigliano held his first one-man show of paintings in 1917 at the Berthe Weill Gallery. Unfortunately this gallery was across from the police station, whose the chief was scandalized by his nudes and closed down the exhibit. After several successful exhibitions in England, Modigliano's work finally began to sell well by 1918. Modigliano is considered one of the most important painters of modern art. He is known for his elongated slender heads, and was influenced by artists Cezanne, Braque and Picasso and his Italian heritage. After 1915, Modigliani devoted himself entirely to painting, producing some of his best portraits. His interest in African masks and sculpture is evident in the treatment of the sitters' faces: flat and masklike, with almond eyes, twisted noses, pursed mouths and elongated necks. Despite their extreme economy of composition and neutral backgrounds, his portraits convey a sharp sense of the sitter's personality. He went on to develop a sophisticated, graceful style of decorative arabesques and simplified forms. However, he was penniless and homeless for most of his life and frequently spent the night in friends' studios. His early drawings and paintings were sold for paltry sums to pay for food and shelter. He died of tubercular meningitis on January 24, 1920. A year after his death, a memorial exhibition was held and interest in his paintings continued to grow. His work can be found in galleries, museums and retailers throughout the world. After his death, prices increased steadily, but his most popular works are still hard to find. In 2006, however, three of his works sold for over $10 million each: Sotheby's London: "Jeanne H?buterne with hat I'"(1919) for GBP 14.6 million (USD $27 million); Christie's NY: "Le fils du concierge" (1918) for $27.75 million. A partial listing of Modigliani's artwork: Sculpture c.1911-12 Head (Tate, London) 1912 Cariatide in piedi (R D Judah Collection, London) c.1912-13 Seated Nude (Courtauld Institute Galleries, London) Paintings 1915 Bride and Groom (Museum of Modern Art, New York City) 1917 Nudo sdraiato (Gianni Mattioli Collection, Milan) 1917 Portrait of Chaim Soutine (National Gallery, Washington) 1918 Ritratto di Baranowski (The Poet) (Mr and Mrs R J Sainsbury Collection, London) c.1919 Reclining Nude (Museum of Modern Art, New York City) 1919 Yellow Sweater (Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York City) 1919 Gypsy Woman with Baby (National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC) 1919 Self-Portrait (Museu de Arte Contempor?nea da Universidade de S?o Paulo, Brazil) 1919 Jeanne H?buterne"« see less
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