Amedeo Modigliani:Burning the brush at Both Ends.

I was enticed to this film and again I could relate it to my own life.


The passion of this man's heat for his women, his art, and finally his self destruction.


So full of great energy, Modigliani was the creative life force in its purest form did he depict on his canvas.


Even though his candle was a flame of fire, a majestic flicker, unfortunately burning at both ends. Chasing the demon rum, (alcohol) & the dragon, (narcotics), that eventually ruined his health, his career and his life.


Modigliani was born July 12, 1884 to Sephardic Jewish Family in Italy, an Italian artist with Jewish blood line.


He was a sculpture and painter but pursued painting for the most.
He began his artistic studies in Italy, later moving to Paris, working with the great ones, Rivera, Picassco, Utrillo, Cocteau.


He later died there at the age of 35; carrying within him a death sentence.



I wonder if his madness wasn't the most beautiful part of himself. Letting his lunacy seduce him; roam wildly, and eventually spilling onto his art.


With his narcotics & drinking he was dancing a dirge with the Devil; In his art, moving rhythmically with GOD.



Pablo Picassco questioned if Modigliani even liked him. His answer: "I love Pablo it's myself I hate."


I think he tryed to disguise his memories, his past, his disappointments through his drinking; his pain through his drugs and his nonchalant way of living which would rip away at his greatness.



Quite charming was he, and probably could beguile a bird out of a tree. He did charm a dog one day at art studio and Jeanne Hebuterne. Love at first sight and the love of her life...she proved it.


Jeanne bore him one child and another on the way but while she was pregnant Modi died from tubercular meningitis along with the complications of drugs.


Jeanne was "unconsolable" and two days after his death she committed suicide, throwing herself and her unborn child out of a fifth floor window.


Modigliani died penniless in utter poverty and of course after his death his reputation soared. Like Van Gogh, who only sold one painting while he was alive, now, today, his work is regarded as extraordinarily worth millions.


Modigliani was on his way; his inner genius on the rise and in full revelation.
Also ready to marry Jeanne, and settle down with their family.


Sometimes and how very unfortunate for many of us, life starts late and ends early. When the fire is finally a flame ready for victory, prosperity and fame.


Suddenly the day comes (and God only knows where), we start to burn like a furnace, generating, cultivating our fiery energy, fueling the mind, body, soul.


Not realizing all we had to offer at the starting line or maybe realizing, but for whatever the reasons and be there many; haunting illusions, invisible dragons, pretend monsters. Whatever chaos the mind & heart can mix and brew into a formula of self destruction.


Gifts we were given early to work with, to nourish, to mold, to inspire; to intensify our spiritual powers.


Then comes out of nowhere a figurative bolt of lightning and we are struck down.

The deep rhythm of growth is stopped... The passion, the zeal gone all to soon, and never to reap the fruition of seeds sowen.



We have to learn to tame, purify the unruly darkness that lurks in the unconscious early; the life-hating influences that threaten to smother our spirit.


Slaying the metaphorical dragons, demons, monsters, any and all that inhibit our torch of flame; attributes of blessed gifts from the Divine.

To transcend limitations so the rhythms of life flow in our favor and the destiny that waits upon us, liberates our soul.

For in the end, it truly is a race against time. So let us travel with the past, the present as a friend, a companion; instead of against it, as a nemesis, an enemy.

Let these stories of the "great ones" inspire us to find our magic sanctuary. To crack the secret formula that ignites the 'majestic flicker' deep within.

Looking to the future together; expanding our imagination, manifest our creativity for the upcoming chapters of success, for the rest of our life.



~LJS