It was into this artistic inferno that Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani arrived in 1906. It was also here that he was to transform himself and come to embody the character of the abandoned artist, a prince of vagabonds, leading a life full of vice and establishing an artistic legend second only to that of Van Gogh.

Originally from Italy, Modigliani was a classically qualified artist. There, he had trained under local masters like Guglielmo Micheli and this classic training had given him an academic method to painting and art. Being also of a home that had prior been more well-to-do, Modigliani initially gave a swanky appearance. Indeed, upon seeing Picasso during this time, he noted that even though he considered the man to be a genius, that was no excuse for such an appearance.

However, up to now within his first year in Paris, Modigliani altered immensely. He went from being the well-organized academic artist and transformed himself into a sort of vagabond artist. The modification was finished with a delinquent wardrobe, drug use and alcoholic use. Among his favorite alcohol was absinthe, which has to art historians become the signature drink of the artists of the era. The main driver of this honor was most definitely Modigliani. However, he not only became a substance abuser. He started having repeated affairs and when sufficiently plastered displayed conduct like getting nude at social gatherings. His behavior was so extreme that it stood clearly out, even in these bohemian circumstances, and he became the symbol of the derelicts artist during his stay in Paris, Modigliani by artists like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

After his first year in Paris, his fascination moved to artists like Paul Cézanne. However, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Modigliani went on to create his very own unique style, a style that can scarcely be compared to that of other artists. Modigliani went on to have his only solo show in Paris in 1917. However, due to the indecent nudes contained in the exhibition, the chief of Paris police closed down the exhibition within a few hours. This was the only solo exhibition by Modigliani.

As time progressed, the all-encompassing lifestyle of Modigliani also took its toll. His health deteriorated in in 1920 Amedeo Modigliani died of tubercular meningitis. He was flat broke at the time of his death, with just one solo exhibition in his career and having at times exchanged his art for meals. However, he was locally popular and his funeral was attended by a huge crowd, including the Paris artistic group. After his death, a number of youthful artists tried to imitate his path to mastery through the implement of drugs and alcohol. It was thought that it was these influenced that had helped Modigliani create his unique style. However, following his path mostly had the effect of creating more dissolute artists in bohemian Paris.

However, Modigliani's legend boomed and so did the admiration of his work. At this time, 9 novels, 3 movies and a documentary has been made about his life. A biography was also written by his daughter named "Modigliani: Man and Myth". In 2010, Modigliani's "La Belle Romaine", a nude such as those not allowed to be exhibited by the Paris police less than 100 years before, was sold on auction in New York for USD 68.9 million, making Modigliani amongst the top most expensive artists ever traded. The man behind the vagabond artist epic has rightfully arrived for his day in the sun.