Modigliani

Modigliani commonly refers to Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in Paris. He is best known for portraits and nudes characterized by elongated faces and figures, almond-shaped eyes, and a calm, lyrical mood. His style fused elements of classical Mediterranean sculpture with modernist approaches, including influences from Cubism and African art, producing a distinctive synthesis.

Life and work: Born in Livorno, Modigliani studied in Italy before moving to Paris in 1906, where he spent most of his career. In Paris he produced hundreds of paintings, many portraits, along with sketches and a small number of sculptures. From around 1914 his portraits and nudes became increasingly linear and elongated, with schematic features and a sense of quiet intensity. He lived in poverty for much of his life, sharing studios with other artists in Montparnasse.

Death and legacy: Modigliani died in Paris in 1920 from tuberculous meningitis, complicated by pleurisy. His partner, Jeanne Hébuterne, who was pregnant at the time, died by suicide two days after him. His work gained greater recognition after his death, and his portraits and nudes are now held in major museums worldwide. He is considered a central figure in early 20th-century modern art.

Other uses: The surname Modigliani may also refer to Franco Modigliani (1918–2003), Italian-American economist and Nobel Prize laureate in economics.