The Tuscan painter bohème
Amedeo Modigliani, the famous Tuscan painter, had a very intense life. In spite of an existence so troubled artist's pictorial production is extremely elegant and simple.
For many Modigliani managed to bridge the gap between the Italian classical painting style and avant-garde modernism but despite this he was appointed art history texts rarely. Colorful and tragic life probably has overshadowed his artistic genius.
Amedeo Modigliani was born in Livorno on 12 July 1884. He was the youngest of four children of a family of educated intellectuals of the left. His father, Flaminio, he collected a series of failures in business and was absent for most of the childhood of Modigliani. To send with the family, her mother, Eugenie Garsin, opened a school where he taught various subjects including English and French.
Amedeo, family called Dedo, contracted Pleurisy at the age of 11 years and 14 years is nearly died of typhoid fever. Two years later he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which would haunt him and slowly consumed. Although rarely spoke of his condition, he seemed to be aware that his time on Earth was short.
After his first attack of typhoid fever, his mother enrolled him at the school of the great master of painting of Livorno, Guglielmo Micheli. So Modigliani drew and painted from an early age. Subsequently the young Modigliani moved to Venice and it is believed that here tried the hash for the first time, making entry into the decadent lifestyle that he pursued for years to come.
Paris was inevitable destination for a young artist with the skills and inclinations of Modigliani. Initially was well received because of its looks quite stylish but soon the appearance and way of life of the painter changed radically. It was described as "the Prince of vagabonds, debauched and self-destructive behaviour".
In 1909, sick and tired of his excessive lifestyle, Modigliani returned briefly to Livorno. Shortly after he returned to Paris and began to carve. In 1914 he returned again to painting and in this period produced a remarkable series of portraits, even portrayed artists such as Picasso, Diego Rivera, Juan Gris and Jean Cocteau.
Modigliani is still famous for his paintings that depict faces and long bodies and melancholy, inspired also toAfrican art. His unique style, which involved the distortion of the figure, was strongly influenced by Modigliani's passion for the human form and physiognomy. His paintings of erotic nudes and his portraits were unmistakable and despite his art was appreciated by renowned artists of his time, Modigliani could barely make a living.
On 24 January 1920, Modigliani died of meningitis , tuberculous. The funeral was attended by a large crowd of friends and artists of Montmartre and Montparnasse. Two days later his wife, Jeanne Hebuterne, jumped from a window, thus giving the death to herself and the baby she was carrying.
Four years after the death of Modigliani, Frenchman Michel Georges-Michel became Modigliani the tragic protagonist of a melodrama, "Les Montparnos". The artist's life has always been an inspiration for many writers and directors, famous film "the colours of the soul" with Andy Garcia.
Modigliani and his troubled history is very attractive for the general public: his passion tormented and premature death makes a romantic hero.
A combination of geniality and provocation that have popularized the coma had ever been in life.
