A brush with an artist’s ill-fated life

There’s a good reason why actors are drawn to playing artists -- many famous painters and sculptors have led tortured, troubled lives.

Not only do performers love to sink their teeth into such juicy roles, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences looks fondly upon actors who demonstrate an artistic side:

Jose Ferrer was nominated for best actor for playing Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1952’s “Moulin Rouge”; Kirk Douglas picked up an Oscar nomination as Vincent van Gogh and Anthony Quinn won for best supporting actor as Paul Gauguin in Vincente Minnelli’s 1956 drama “Lust for Life”; Ed Harris was nominated for best actor as Jackson Pollock and Marcia Gay Harden won the supporting Oscar as Lee Krasner in the 2000 film “Pollock”; and Salma Hayek received a best actress nomination as Mexican Frida Kahlo in 2002’s “Frida.”

Now, Andy Garcia takes on the role of Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani in the new film “Modigliani,” opening Friday.

Directed by Scotsman Mick Davis, “Modigliani” is set in the bohemian Paris of 1919 and revolves around the Rotonde -- the hangout of such artistic giants as Modigliani, Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Diego Rivera.

Modigliani was known for his paintings, often of nudes; influenced by African sculpture and tribal masks, he often gave his subjects elongated faces. Controversy always swirled around his art. In fact, his first personal exhibition was closed down by authorities on opening day because of allegations that it was indecent.

As the film opens, the Jewish Modigliani’s career is at a creative and financial lull, which adds fuel to his vicious rivalry with Picasso. His personal life is also in disarray because of his love affair with a beautiful, rich Catholic woman, Jeanne Hebuterne (Elsa Zylberstein).

After Jeanne’s bigoted father secretly whisks their love child away to a convent, Modigliani enters an art competition in Paris because he needs funds to help rescue their child.

Modigliani died in 1920 at age 35 from tubercular meningitis and Jeanne, who was eight months pregnant, committed suicide the day after his death.

-- Susan King