SCULPTURER/PAINTER (Thank you, Wikipedia!)
In 1909, Modigliani returned home to Livorno, sickly and tired from his wild lifestyle. Soon he was back in Paris, this time renting a studio in Montparnasse. He originally saw himself as a sculptor rather than a painter, and was encouraged to continue after Paul Guillaume, an ambitious young art dealer, took an interest in his work and introduced him to sculptor Constantin Brancusi.
Although a series of Modigliani’s sculptures were exhibited in the Salon d’Automne of 1912, he abruptly abandoned sculpting and focused solely on his painting.
In Modigliani’s art, there is evidence of the influence of primitive art from Africa and Cambodia which he may have seen in the Musée de l’Homme. A possible interest in African masks seems to be evident in his portraits. In both his painting and sculpture, the sitters’ faces resemble ancient Egyptian painting in their flat and masklike appearance, with distinctive almond eyes, pursed mouths, twisted noses, and elongated necks.

His most precious muse however, is was his beloved Jeanne Hebuterne.

They painted one another, as she too was an artist. Her works were hidden for over 70 years by her brother. His many paintings of Jeanne, clearly exhibit his devotion and love for her. Upon his early death from tuberculuosis which was exacerbated by his alcoholism, distraught, Jeanne took her own life, as well as their unborn 8 month old child. They left behind a 19-month of daughter, who was raised by Amedeo’s sister. She grew up unknowing of her parents, but as an adult researched and wrote a biography on their tragic lives. Amedeo was 35, Jeanne was only 21.