The Jewish painter and sculptor who was influenced by Africa and the Renaissance is considered one of the most important and original artists in the early 20th century.

• Amadeo Modilliani

Tomorrow, 100 years ago, Amadeo Modigliani (1920-1884) died: an Italian Jewish painter and sculptor, one of the most important and original artists of the early 20th century.

Modigliani was born to a bourgeois Jewish family in Tuscany, Italy, a scion of the Raptors of Spain. As a child he suffered from poor health, and his main hobby was to paint. His mother recognized his talent, sent him to study painting in Florence, and later turned to painting studies in Venice. In 1905 he moved to Paris, focused on portraiture and sculpture, and began exhibiting his works at various exhibitions in Europe.

Modigliani is considered to have a unique style, and besides some early landscape paintings, portrait painters and feminine nudity. His works are characterized by long limbs and little use of color. One of the hallmarks of his paintings is the women's long neck. In his works, the influence of African art stands out, alongside influences from the Renaissance period.

In his short life (died in Paris at the age of 36 from tuberculosis and due to excessive alcohol consumption), no Modigliani received fame, but over the years his works have been widely appreciated. In 2004, a movie by director Mick Davis, "Modilliani," was based on the artist's life.