Numerous high-quality reproductions accompany this in-depth examination of Modigliani’s career from the penetrating psychological studies of his early portraits to the more stylised images such as the graceful figures with the famous almond-shaped eyes and swan-like necks and his mature depiction of nudes, which have become universal symbols of femininity.

Although Modigliani led the life of the turn-of-the-century bohemian in Paris, dying at the young age of 35, his restless life is scarcely reflected in his paintings, which are characterised by cool detachment and often archaic austerity. This fascinating study reveals how Modigliani drew his inspiration not so much from the avant-garde movements of the time, as from the artists of the Renaissance and Rococo periods.