Poor, Misunderstood, Drunk. Only became successful after his death.everyone knows the cliché of the tortured bohemian artist, and none fit the description more than Amadeo Modigliani also know as Modi to his friends. He was good looking, intelligent and very prone to substance abuse.
Early years of Modigliani
Modigliani was an Italian Jewish painter and sculptor who worked in France. He was well know for Portraits and nudes in Modern style. His paintings characterised by long face & neck. His paintings were not received well during his life time. But later found the acceptance. He is so renowned the paintings these characteristics that the medical condition ‘pseudo-goitre’. Which involves a swelling of neck resulting in curve, also known as Modigliani syndrome.
Moving to Paris
Modigliani spent his youth in Italy, where he studied the art of antiquity & renaissance. In 1906, moved to Paris, where he came into contact with Pablo Picasso & Constantin Bracusi. By 1912 he exhibited highly stylized sculptures. From 1909 to 1914 he devoted himself to sculptures. His main subjects were portraits and full figures, both in image & sculptures.
He had a very little success when he was alive, but after his death achieved great popularity. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 35 in Paris. Impoverished and being giving away his works in exchange for meal. Yet, as the familiar adage goes, his paintings now sell for enormous amounts of money. Around 95 years after his death, his painting Nu couché sold for around $170.4 million. One of the most expensive paintings ever sold.
Modigliani saved his family from ruin before he was born
His family lived in Livorno, Italy. Where his father was a wealthy young mining engineer. 1883 economic depression spiraled the family to bankruptcy, reducing their family fortune. His well educated mother setup school to bring some extra income to support the family. But the debtors still came calling. Luckily for the family, an ancient law existed that stated creditors are forbidden to seize the bed of a pregnant woman and the resourceful Modiglianis exploited this to rescue any belongings of worth. They piled all their prized possessions on top of Modigliani’s mother as she was giving birth so the bailiffs couldn’t take them, saving the family from ruin.
His art teacher nicknamed him Superman
Modigliani began painting at very young age. Once while he was sick with typhiod fever he declared that all he wanted in the world to see the paintings in Palazzo Pitti and the Uffizi in Florence. The moment he recovered, his mother enrolled him with the best Painting master in the city, Guglielmo Micheli. Landscape, portrait, still life and nude were the subject studied my Modigliani. Micheli nicknamed superman for his impressive talents.
Moved to Paris and had a makeover
At the age of 24, Modigliani moved to Paris & setup in Le Bateau-Lavoir, commune for penniless artist. He dressed smartly and decorated his studio with plush draperies. Upon meeting Picasso, who wore workmen’s clothes, he even commented that nothing excused such an uncouth appearance, no matter the genius. A year after he transformed his image completely. He tried to emulate a bohemian artist, letting his cloths and studio fall into disarray.
Turned to drink to disguise how ill he was.
Suffering from tuberculosis, he disguise how ill he really was. He drank heavy hoped his hedonism would mask his sickened appearance and gradual weakening. He wanted to keep his conditions hidden as those suffered from tuberculosis were often pitied or even feared and avoided because the incurable disease spread easily.
A very talented Sculptor.
He might been best known for paintings, but Modigliani had always fancied himself as sculptor. Constantin Brancusi works made a huge impression on him. He carved 20 heads on sandstone, but his sculpting career was very short. WW2 broke our making it difficult to acquire sculptural materials also his encroaching illness also meant that his physical capabilities declined.
His solo exhibition closed on first day by Police
Modigliani was famous for his nudes, which was commissioned by his friend and art dealer Leopold Zborowski. In 1917, he had his first and only solo show, which cause quite a scandal for its sensational and shocking content. On first day within few hours of doors opening, police closed down the exhibition. Show displayed seven nude paintings which were obscene. The exhibit was only allowed to reopen once the painting was removed.
