Amedeo Modigliani (Modigliani Amedeo)

(1884-1920)
Born July 12, 1884 in Livorno. After the school of painting in Livorno at G. Micheli, in 1902, Modigliani enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, and a little later - to the Academy in Venice.
In early 1906 he went to Paris, where he started looking for contemporary artistic language. Been influenced by P. Cezanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Fauvism and Cubism, but eventually developed his own style, which is typical for a rich and solid color.

In November 1907 Modigliani met with Dr. Paul Alexander, who withdrew to his studio and became the first collector of his work. The artist became a member of the Independent and in 1908 and 1910 exhibited his work in their salon.

Meet the sculptor Constantin Brancusi in 1909, played a fundamental role in the development of sculptural art of Modigliani. In Brancusi, Modigliani received the support and valuable advice. During these years, Modigliani mainly engaged in the study of sculpture and works of classical antiquity, the Indian and African sculpture. In 1912 he exhibited seven works of sculpture at the Salon d'Automne.

The outbreak of World War II, many friends Modigliani left Paris. Artist oppressed life changes, unemployment, poverty. At this time he met the English poet Beatrice Hastings, with whom he had lived for two years. Modigliani was friendly with such diverse artists as Picasso, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, as well as with collectors and business people - Paul Guillaume and Leopold Zborovsky. The latter became the patron of the artist and his work is supported.

During these years, Modigliani returned to painting and has created perhaps his most significant works. Inherent abstractness of his works was the result of studying the art of ancient civilizations and the Italian primitives, . as well as the influence of his friends Cubists at the same time, his work differ astonishing subtlety of psychological characteristics,
. Later, the formal aspect of his work is becoming more simple and classical behavior is reduced to a combination of graphics and color rhythms.

In 1917, Modigliani, while already very sick and prone to alcoholism, met with Jeanne Hebuterne, who became his companion in the last years of life. The following year, Zborowski organized a personal exhibition of the artist Berthe Weill Gallery. It was not a success, but caused a scandal a few images of the nude: they were considered indecent, and at the request of the police canvases were removed. Nevertheless, some French and foreign collectors have expressed interest in the work of Modigliani. In 1918 the artist went to the Cote d'Azur for rest and treatment, and stayed there for some time, continuing to work hard. Modigliani died shortly after his return to Paris, January 24, 1920. The next morning, Jeanne Hebuterne committed suicide.

In the works of Modigliani combines purity and elegance of style, symbolism and humanism, pagan sense of completeness and unbridled joy of life and the pathetic experience of suffering is always troubled conscience.