Amedeo Modigliani
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 9:00AM ITEM 495: Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani - The Pretty Housewife - 1915 - Oil on canvas; Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA (click photo for larger image)During the early 1900s in Paris, the Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) developed a truly unique style. Today, the sight of his graceful portraits and lush nudes evoke his name immediately. But during his brief career, very few people apart from his fellow artists were aware of his gifts. Modigliani had to struggle against poverty and chronic ill health, dying at the tender age of 35 of tuberculosis and excesses of drink and drugs. His interest in African masks and sculpture remains evident, especially in the treatment of the sitters' faces: flat and masklike, with almond eyes, twisted noses, and pursed mouths. Nevertheless, despite their extreme economy of composition and neutral backgrounds, Modigliani’s portraits convey a sharp sense of each sitter's personality. Modigliani’s work also embodies the entire Italian tradition, which can be seen in the elongated necks of his sitters. This is yet another characteristic that sets him apart from other of his contemporary Modernists.
Reader Comments (1)
Amedeo Modigliani (1884 - 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor. My favorite is- Bride and Groom, 1915. > http://www.segmation.com/blog