Bolaffio was born in Gorizia on 3 June 1883, to Amodeo (or Amadio) and Pia Gentilomo.[1] His father owned arable land, and traded in wines;[2] his family was of Jewish origin, of comfortable economic conditions.[3] Having spent his early years mainly in Palmanova, Bolaffio was initially trained in Trieste, studying under Giovanni Cossar and Italico Brass: it was his teachers who advised him to continue his education in Florence and to turn to Giovanni Fattori.[1][3] Between 1900 and 1902 he attended the artist's studio, and in a course held by Fattori he met Amedeo Modigliani.[1][3] In 1907 Bolaffio joined the Trieste artistic circle, and in 1909 opened a studio in Trieste.[3] In 1910 he went to Paris, where Modigliani also resided: the latter brought him into contact with the Parisian art environment, and Bolaffio met and was inspired by Matisse, Cézanne, and Gauguin.[3]
After spending a period in Trieste after returning from Paris, in 1912 Bolaffio decided to embark as a fireman on the ships of the Lloyd Triestino and made numerous trips, reaching Asia.[1][3] In 1913 he returned to Italy and was able to exhibit in Naples some paintings inspired by his travels to the East.[3] Bolaffio was then called to arms at the outbreak of the First World War, and took part in the entire conflict, remaining deeply shocked.[3] In 1919, when the war was over, he returned to live in Trieste.[3] He made numerous portraits of illustrious personalities of the day, including Umberto Saba, Dario De Tuoni and Ruggero Rovan.[3] In 1926 his father died and Bolaffio isolated himself from public life.[3] On 15 December 1931 he donated the work Triptych of the Port to the Revoltella Museum.[3] He died in Trieste on 26 December 1931.[1][4]
