Lecture: Amedeo Modigliani – Bohemia Died With Modi

Amedeo Modigliani was fiercely proud of his Jewish heritage and Italian identity, beginning his artistic training under Macchiaioli painter Guglielmo Micheli. In 1906, at just 21, he arrived in Montmartre, Paris — handsome, talented, and free-spirited — and quickly immersed himself in the bohemian world of the avant-garde, rubbing shoulders with artists like Picasso at the famed Bateau Lavoir. Known for his striking looks and flamboyant personality, Modigliani was often seen carrying Dante’s Inferno, indulging in heavy drinking, and behaving with extravagant flair. His nickname, “Modi,” was a playful abbreviation of his name and a nod to the French word maudit — cursed.

While many artists aligned with established movements, Modigliani followed his path, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of sculpture, caryatids, expressive portraits, and sensual nudes. But his life was marked by struggle; tuberculosis and substance abuse ultimately claimed him at the age of 34 in 1920. The tragedy deepened when, the day after his death, his beloved partner Jeanne Hébuterne — pregnant with their second child — took her own life. In many ways, the passing of Modigliani marked the end of Paris’s bohemian age, though his art continues to inspire and enchant.