 Modigliani showed great promise while with Micheli, and ceased his studies only when he was forced to, by the onset of tuberculosis.In 1901, whilst in Rome, Modigliani admired the work of Domenico Morelli, a painter of dramatic religious and literary scenes.Morelli had served as an inspiration for a group of iconoclasts who were known by the title "the Macchiaioli" (from "macchia" —"dash of colour", or, more derogatively, "stain"), and Modigliani had already been exposed to the influences of the Macchiaioli.