Amedeo Modigliani - Charismatic but Chaotic Master of Modern Art - Biographical Documentary

Modigliani was the ultimate embodiment of la vie bohème—a starving artist who fuelled his creative genius with alcohol, drugs and tempestuous love affairs, dying in poverty at the age of 35, having sold only a handful of his works. If you walk into any major art gallery around the world today, however, you’re sure to find at least one of his iconic paintings. With their elongated necks, oval faces, and mysterious, blank, melancholic eyes, his portraits are instantly recognisable. But behind the subdued elegance of his canvases lies one of the most chaotic and tragic lives in the history of modern art. In this biographical documentary Professor Graeme Yorston explores the short, tumultuous life of an Italian painter who blazed onto the avant garde art scene in Paris in its glorious heyday – leaving behind a legacy of unique paintings and more than few broken hearts. Finding out more: There are several modern biographies of Modigliani – I used Modigliani – a Life by Jeffrey Meyers and Modigliani – The Pure Bohemian by June Rose but also found his daughter’s exploration of his life fascinating: Modigliani: Man and Myth by Jeanne Modigliani. I have added some of those I print to my Amazon Store Page. https://www.amazon.com/shop/professor... Copyright Disclaimer The primary purpose of this video is educational. I have tried to use material in the public domain or with Creative Commons Non-attribution licences wherever possible. Where attribution is required, I have listed this below. I believe that any copyright material used falls under the remit of Fair Use, but if any content owners would like to dispute this, I will not hesitate to immediately remove that content. It is not my intention to infringe on content ownership in any way. If you happen to find your art or images in the video, please let me know and I will be glad to credit you. Academic Papers: Colt, H. (2024). Becoming Modigliani. Rake Press. Harris, J. C. (2005). Jeanne Hébuterne. Archives of general psychiatry, 62(7), 710-710. Stirling, G. (1997). Tuberculosis and 19th and 20th century painters. Proceedings of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 27(2), 221-226. Images Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Wellcome Collection Internet Archive Music Krenek – Kette, Kreis und Spiegel, Op. 160 Sinfonische Zeichnung für Orchester. NDR Sinfonieorchester. Conductor: Ernst Krenek Debussy: Rêverie - Arr for Soprano saxophone and piano. David Hernando Vitores. CC4.0 Debussy - Golliwog's Cake Walk - Piano Performance by eldüendesüarez CC4.0 Debussy, Préludes (Book I) – VIII -La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Marcelle Meyer PD Satie - Vexations Francesco Tristano CC0 Debussy - Arabesque No-1 in E - Piano Performance by eldüendesüarez. CC4.0 Satie Gnossienne 7 La Pianista CC3.0 Satie Gnossienne 4 Piano clarinet LorinJonesStubbsMusic CC0 Satie Gnossienne 5 La Pianista CC3.0 Satie Desiccated embryos Yuuh Music CC0 Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1 Florence Robineau CC3.0 Chopin -Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65 I. Allegro moderato: Christopher Harding, Yeonjin Kim Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto No 2 Presto: University of Iowa Chamber Orchestra; William LaRue Jones, conductor; Bogyeong Lee, pianist. CC4.0 Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals. Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan. Seattle Youth Symphony, conductor Vilem Sokol. CC2.0 La cygne Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, second movement. Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Hugh Wolff CC4.0 Gershwin: 3 Preludes for Clarinet and Piano II. Clarinet: Byeon Gyu-ri, Piano: Kim Hwa-jeong CCAttribution Albeniz - Tango Op.165 Nº2 - David Hernando Vitores - Kayoko Morimoto (Wasei Duo) CC4.0 Di Capua O Sole Mio: Vītiņš, Jānis PD Reicha - Wind Quintet Op. 100 No. 4 in E minor - 1. Adagio The Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet CC2.0 Written by Graeme Yorston Copyright 2026 Video editing Manavi Sakunika Produced by Tom Yorston