Modigliani and Bohemian Paris 1906 – 1920

Lecture

Modigliani – Anna Zborowska 1917

 

Modigliani – Jacques & Berthe Lipchitz 1916

Modigliani remains one of the most popular artists of the 20th century.

He was born in Italy but moved to Paris in 1906 starting to live a Bohemian lifestyle drifting from studio to studio, drinking heavily and abusing his body with drugs.

In 1910 he moved from Montmartre to Montparnasse which became the centre of artistic Paris. He was a close friend of Maurice Utrillo, Picasso, Max Jacob, Moise Kisling, Chaïm Soutine and many other painters and writers who made up Bohemian Paris.

I discuss the influences on his painting and sculpture including Cézanne, African art and Cubism and show how he developed a highly individual style of his own.

I look at his haunting portraits and sensual nudes while exploring the Bohemian life of Montmartre.

Amedeo Modigliani Beatrice Hastings

In 1917 Modigliani started painting nudes looking back to the Italian Renaissance for inspiration.

These wonderful, sensual paintings are amongst the finest nudes of the 20th century. Modigliani worked fast applying his paint with a sensitive and exciting technique and his sense of design and drawing are exceptional.

Tragically he died in 1920 of meningitis just as his work was becoming appreciated.

His partner Jeanne Hebuterne jumped to her death the day after her beloved Modi died.