Modigliani Masters of Art Series

by Alfred Werner, Amedeo Modigliani (Illustrator)

Amadeo Modigliani(1884-1920) has remained one of the most popular artists of modern times; his reputation has never been eclipsed by the great revolutionary figures who were his contemporaries. His sensuous nudes, his innocent, trusting children, his portraits - which capture the individual personalities of his subjects despite his highly mannered style - all show the exquisite refinement of line and color that explain his enduring appeal. Although influenced by the avant-garde movements of his time, Modigliani's art also has the flavor of his heritage, the immortal fifteenth-century art of his native Italy. In his life, Modigliani cut the figure of the quintessential bohemian artist. He was notorious for the excesses of his appetites, and they led to his untimely death at the age of thirty-six. His great love, Jeanne Hebuterne, committed suicide on the morning after his death. Yet the legend of his dissipation and irregular life may have been exaggerated, as the late Dr. Alfred Werner points out in this book, for the intense productivity of his pitifully short life bespeaks a man driven to work as much as to live. To write this book, Dr. Werner, an authority on the School of Paris painters, consulted with family and friends of the artist and examined a great deal of documentary material, some of which is reproduced here. In addition to his paintings, Modigliani's drawings and his sculptures - which he himself valued above all else in his art - are included in this striking study of a brief but incandescent life.

Genres: Art

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Alfred Werner (March 31 1911–July 14 1979) (born Alfred Siegfried Weintraub) was a prominent Austro-American art critic, historian, and author who specialized in 19th and 20th-century European and American art, particularly modern art and Jewish artists.

After surviving the Dachau concentration camp, he moved to New York and authored numerous monographs on painters like Chagall, Modigliani, and Soutine.

Werner also wrote for Arts magazine, The New York Times, and Commentary, providing critical analysis of exhibitions and artists.

Reviews

[Joel Ackerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

How he managed to imbue so much into seemingly so little, and create art so near caricature, is remarkable.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

i've only seen a few prints by modigliani before finding this book. didn't like his work before, now having sampled a fair selection i'm less impressed. the intro and commentary were quite useful in putting him in context.

[Jennifer Bacall · Rating 5 out of 5]

With great insight and beautiful reproductions, this is a comprehensive and accurate introduction to and celebration of Amedeo Modigliani.