Self-portrait 1896 (paper, ink, pen)
Biography of Alexandre Benois
Benois Alexander Nikolaevich(1870-1960) graphic artist, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of Russian modernity.
A. N. Benois was born in the family of a famous architect and grew up in an atmosphere of reverence for art, however art education not received. He studied at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mainly watercolor). He did this so thoroughly that he managed to write a chapter on Russian art for the third volume of "The History of Painting in the 19th Century" by R. Muther, published in 1894.
They immediately started talking about him as a talented art critic who turned over the established ideas about the development of domestic art. In 1897, based on impressions from trips to France, he created the first serious work - a series of watercolors "Last walks Louis XIV", - showing himself in it as an original artist.
Repeated trips to Italy and France and copying artistic treasures there, studying the writings of Saint-Simon, Western literature of the 17th-19th centuries, and interest in ancient engravings were the foundation of his artistic education. In 1893, Benois acted as a landscape painter, creating watercolors of the environs of St. Petersburg. In 1897-1898 he painted a series of watercolors and gouache landscape paintings Versailles parks, recreating in them the spirit and atmosphere of antiquity.
By the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Benois again returns to the landscapes of Peterhof, Oranienbaum, Pavlovsk. He glorifies beauty and majesty 18th architecture in. Nature interests the artist mainly in its connection with history. Possessing a gift for teaching and erudition, he late XIX in. organized the "World of Art" association, becoming its theorist and inspirer. He worked a lot in book graphics. He often appeared in the press and every week published his "Artistic Letters" (1908-16) in the newspaper "Rech".
He worked no less fruitfully as an art historian: he published in two editions (1901, 1902) the widely known book Russian Painting in the 19th Century, substantially reworking his own book for it. early essay; began to publish serial publications "Russian School of Painting" and "History of Painting of All Times and Peoples" (1910-17; the publication was interrupted with the beginning of the revolution) and the magazine "Art Treasures of Russia"; created a wonderful "Guide to the Hermitage Art Gallery" (1911).
After the revolution of 1917, Benois took an active part in the work of various organizations, mainly related to the protection of monuments of art and antiquity, and from 1918 he also took up museum work- Became in charge of the Art Gallery of the Hermitage. He developed and successfully implemented a completely new plan for the general exposition of the museum, which contributed to the most expressive demonstration of each work.
At the beginning of the XX century. Benois illustrates the works of Pushkin A.S. Acts as a critic and art historian. In the 1910s, people came to the center of the artist's interests. This is his picture "Peter I on a walk in summer garden", where in a multi-figure scene the image of a past life seen through the eyes of a contemporary is recreated.
In the work of Benois the artist, history decisively prevailed. Two topics invariably attracted his attention: "Petersburg XVIII - early XIX century." and "France of Louis XIV". He addressed them primarily in his historical compositions - in two "Versailles series" (1897, 1905-06), in widely famous paintings"Parade under Paul I" (1907), "Exit of Catherine II in the Tsarskoye Selo Palace" (1907), etc., reproducing a long-gone life with deep knowledge and a subtle sense of style. The same themes, in essence, were devoted to his numerous natural landscapes, which he usually performed either in St. Petersburg and its suburbs, or in Versailles (Benoit regularly traveled to France and lived there for a long time). The artist entered the history of Russian book graphics with his book "The Alphabet in the Pictures of Alexander Benois" (1905) and illustrations for "The Queen of Spades" by A. S. Pushkin, performed in two versions (1899, 1910), as well as wonderful illustrations for " Bronze Horseman", to the three variants of which he devoted almost twenty years of work (1903-22).
In the same years he took part in the design of " Russian seasons", organized by Diaghilev S.P. in Paris, which included in their program not only opera and ballet performances, but also symphony concerts.
Benois designed the opera "Death of the Gods" by R. Wagner on stage Mariinsky Theater and after that he performed sketches of scenery for N. N. Tcherepnin's ballet "The Pavilion of Armida" (1903), the libretto of which he composed himself. The passion for ballet turned out to be so strong that, on the initiative of Benois and with his direct participation, a private ballet troupe, which began in 1909 triumphal performances in Paris - "Russian Seasons". Benois, who took the post of artistic director in the troupe, performed the design for several performances.
One of his highest achievements was the scenery for I. F. Stravinsky's ballet "Petrushka" (1911). Soon, Benois began working with the Moscow Art Theater, where he successfully designed two performances based on the plays of J.-B. Moliere (1913) and for some time even participated in the management of the theater along with K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.
From 1926 he lived in Paris, where he died. The main works of the artist: "The Walk of the King" (1906), "Fantasy on the Versailles theme" (1906), "Italian comedy" (1906), illustrations for the Bronze Horseman by Pushkin A.S. (1903) and others.
Alexander Nikolaevich Benois - 05/03/1870 - 02/09/1960
Self-portrait 1896 (paper, ink, pen)
Graphic artist, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of Russian modernity.
Alexander Nikolaevich Benois was born in the family of a famous professor of architecture and architect of the royal court Nikolai Leontievich Benois, who was the son of Louis-Jules Benois, a native of France. Maternal grandfather of Alexander Nikolayevich Albert Katarinovich Kavos, a Venetian by birth, was the builder of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.
A. N. Benois spent his childhood and many years of life in St. Petersburg, in house number 15 on Glinka Street, not far from the Kryukov Canal.
The situation in the house, the environment surrounding Alexander Nikolayevich, contributed to his artistic development. Since childhood, he fell in love with "old Petersburg", the suburbs of the capital. A love for the stage was born in him early, he retained it for the rest of his life. Alexander Benois was gifted with exceptional musicality, had a rare visual memory. The works created by him in extreme old age, "drawings-memories", indicate the amazing resilience and strength of his life perception.
Benois did not receive art education. He studied at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University (1890-1894), but at the same time independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mainly watercolor). He did this so thoroughly that he managed to write a chapter on Russian art for the third volume of R. Muther's History of Painting in the 19th Century, published in 1894. They immediately started talking about him as a talented art critic who turned over the established ideas about the development of domestic art. In 1897, based on impressions from trips to France, he created the first serious work - a series of watercolors "The Last Walks of Louis XIV", showing himself in it as an original artist.
They immediately started talking about him as a talented art critic who turned over the established ideas about the development of domestic art.
Benois actively participated in artistic life - primarily in the activities of the "World of Art" association, of which he was the ideologist and theorist, as well as in the publication of the "World of Art" magazine, which became the basis of this association; often appeared in print and every week published his "Art Letters" (1908-1916) in the newspaper "Rech". He worked no less fruitfully as an art historian: he published in two editions (1901, 1902) the widely known book Russian Painting in the 19th Century, substantially reworking his earlier essay for it; began to publish serial publications "Russian School of Painting" and "History of Painting of All Times and Peoples" (1910-1917; the publication was interrupted with the beginning of the revolution) and the magazine "Art Treasures of Russia"; created a wonderful "Guide to the Hermitage Art Gallery" (1911). After the revolution of 1917, Benois took an active part in the work of various organizations, mainly related to the protection of monuments of art and antiquity, and from 1918 he also took up museum work - he became the curator of the Hermitage and managed for the first time to carry out the scientific hanging of paintings in it.
He also had time for his family. Son Nikolai, daughters Elena and Anna, nephews and their little friends found in "Uncle Shura" a participant in curious undertakings, useful activities and never felt the annoyance or weariness of this busy but indefatigable man.
In the work of Benois the artist, history decisively prevailed. Two topics invariably attracted his attention: "Petersburg of the 18th - early 19th centuries" and "France of Louis XIV". He addressed them primarily in his historical compositions - in two "Versailles series" (1897, 1905-1906), in the well-known paintings "Parade under Paul I" (1907), "Exit of Catherine II in Tsarskoye Selo Palace" (1907 ) and others, reproducing a long-gone life with deep knowledge and a subtle sense of style and love. The same themes, in essence, were devoted to his numerous natural landscapes, which he usually performed either in St. Petersburg and its suburbs, or in Versailles (Benoit regularly traveled to France and lived there for a long time). The same themes dominated his book and theatrical works, to which he, like most of the "World of Art", paid no less, if not more, attention than easel art.
The artist knew how to appreciate the greatness of the art of the past. It played especially important role in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, when capitalist buildings, ugly apartment buildings began to threaten the classic appearance of the city. Benois was a consistent defender of the values of antiquity.
The artist entered the history of Russian book graphics with his book "The Alphabet in the Pictures of Alexander Benois" (1905) and illustrations for "The Queen of Spades" by A. S. Pushkin, executed in two versions (1899, 1910). The highest achievement of book graphics was the illustrations for the poem by A. S. Pushkin "The Bronze Horseman"; the artist worked on them for more than twenty years. Unique in artistic merit, temperament and strength, this work alone could give A. Benois the name of the greatest artist of the early 20th century.
A. Benois was also a famous theatrical figure. He began working with K. S. Stanislavsky, and after the Great October revolution together with A. M. Gorky participated in the organization of the Leningrad Bolshoi drama theater, for which he created a number of brilliant performances. The design of the "Marriage of Figaro", staged in 1926, - latest work Benois in Soviet Russia.
The life of the artist ended in Paris. He worked extensively in Milan in famous theater La Scala. But the memory of his homeland, where he participated in the implementation of the first measures of the Soviet government to organize museums, was a leading employee of the Hermitage and the Russian Museum, took care of the protection of ancient monuments, has always been the most precious thing for A. Benois in his life.
Back in the 1910s, as one of the most active figures and organizers (together with S. Diaghilev) of the tour of the Russian ballet in Paris, A. Benois most of all cared that these performances contributed to the world fame of Russian art. All his last works are devoted to the continuation and variations of the "Russian series", begun in 1907-1910. He constantly returned to the images of Pushkin's poetry that were dear to him: "On the shore of desert waves", "Flood in St. Petersburg in 1824" AT last years life A. Benois again, but in painting, developed these subjects. Working for cinematography, A. Benois turned to the images of F. M. Dostoevsky, to Russian themes. In music, he passionately loved Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov.
CARNIVAL ON THE FONTANKA
SUMMER GARDEN UNDER PETER THE GREAT. 1902
PARADE UNDER PAVEL-1. 1907
PETERGOF. BIG CASCADE. 1901-1917
PETERGOF. MAIN FOUNTAIN. 1942
PAVILION. 1906
SKETCH OF THE PAINTING OF THE RESTAURANT HALL AT THE KAZAN STATION IN MOSCOW. 1916
FROM THE SERIES "LAST WALKS OF LOUIS-14"
VERSAILLES. ALLEY. 1906
THE BATH OF THE MARQUISE. 1906
DECORATIONS FOR VARIOUS PERFORMANCES:
"ALBUK IN PICTURES"
ILLUSTRATION FOR "AN ALPHABET IN PICTURES". LETTER "S". 1905
ILLUSTRATION FOR "AN ALPHABET IN PICTURES". LETTER "X". 1905
ILLUSTRATION FOR "AN ALPHABET IN PICTURES". LETTER "E".1905
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE "BRONZE HORSEMAN" 1916-1922
COSTUME SKETCHES FOR THEATER PERFORMANCES:
BOOK COVER A. BENOIT
Alexander Nikolaevich Benois (April 21 (May 3), 1870 - February 9, 1960) - Russian artist, art historian, art critic, founder and main ideologist of the World of Art association. From family famous architects Benois: son of N. L. Benois, brother of L. N. Benois and A. N. Benois, and cousin of Yu. Yu. Benois.
Self-portrait. 1896
Alexander Benois (Alexandre Benois) was born on April 21 (May 3), 1870 in St. Petersburg, in a family Russian architect Nikolai Leontievich Benois and Camilla Albertovna Benois (daughter of architect A.K. Kavos). He graduated from the prestigious 2nd St. Petersburg Gymnasium. For some time he studied at the Academy of Arts, also studied fine arts independently and under the guidance of his older brother Albert.
In 1894 he began his career as an art theorist and historian, writing a chapter on Russian artists for the German collection History painting XIX century." In 1896-1898 and 1905-1907 he worked in France.
Became one of the organizers and ideologists artistic association"World of Art", founded the magazine of the same name.
In 1916-1918, the artist created illustrations for A. S. Pushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman". In 1918, Benois headed art gallery Hermitage, published her new catalogue. He continued to work as a book and theater artist, in particular, he worked on the design of BDT performances. In 1925 he took part in International exhibition contemporary decorative and industrial arts in Paris.
In 1926, Benois left the USSR without returning from a business trip abroad. Lived in Paris, worked mainly on sketches theatrical scenery and costumes. Alexander Benois played a significant role in the productions of S. Diaghilev's ballet enterprise "Ballets Russes", as an artist and author - director of performances. Benois died on February 9, 1960 in Paris.
Versailles. Louis XIV feeding the fish 1897
The last walks of Louis XIV 1897
Masquerade under Louis XIV 1898
The last walks of Louis XIV The king walked in any weather (Saint-Simon) 1898
Versailles at Curtius. 1898
Peterhof Grand Cascade" 1901
Rolling Mountain Hall in Oranienbaum 1901
Entrance to the Pavlovsk Palace 1902
Toy series Bird yard "1904
Toy Series Chorus of Nurses" 1904
Toy series From the world of fantasy II 1904
Screensaver of the magazine "World of Art"
Italian comedy 1905
Versailles Fountain of Bacchus in winter" 1905
Version of the frontispiece to Pushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman" 1905
Chinese Pavilion Revnivets 1906
Marquise's Bath 1906
Breton dances 1906
Breton Landscape 1906
Walk of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna through Noble Street in St. Petersburg. 1903
Parade under Paul. 1907
Palace Square 1907
M V Dobuzhinsky 1907
A F Nurok 1907
Sketch of the scenery for the play "Foremother"" 1908
Pushkin Queen of Spades» - In the gambling house 1910
Peterhof Merchants Stairs in Grand Palace 1900
Illustration for The Bronze Horseman 1916-1922
Evening 1905-1906
Costume design for Vicomte de Beaujansky in the image of Rinaldo for the production of N. N. Tcherepnin's pantomime ballet "Armida's Pavilion" 1907
Sketches for Stravinsky's ballet "Petrushka" - Sketch for a poster" 1948
Sketches for Stravinsky's Petrushka - Petrushka's Room Set design 1913
Fully
Finally, it became known who became the winner of Eurovision 2017. The bookmaker's forecast of the winner of Eurovision 2017 came true and the first place in the song contest was taken by the Portuguese performer Salvador Sobral, which was written by his sister Louise. Almost every second country generously gave Portugal 12 or 10 points, so the gap from other participants was noticeable from the first minutes. However, it cannot be said that in social networks the entire Russian-speaking audience strongly disagreed with the verdict, singling out Moldova, Sweden, Hungary and Bulgaria as favorites.
Bookmakers were sure that the possible winners of Eurovision 2017 are Portugal (represented by Salvador Sobral), Italy (Francesco Gabbani) or Bulgaria represented by 17-year-old Christian Kostov. The six weakest performers were to include Austria, Belarus, Ukraine, Greece, Spain and Cyprus.
Judging vote:
The final assessment of the audience and the jury:
The final of Eurovision 2017 brought a lot of surprises: Verka Serdyuchka, who personally announced the start of voting, and new songs of both Ukrainian winners of previous years: Ruslana, who won first place back in 2004, and Jamala, winner of last year's contest. It was not without: one of the spectators of the hall with the Australian flag climbed onto the stage during the performance of the singer Jamala, took off his pants and bared his buttocks in front of all of Europe.
Next year the song contest will be held in Portugal, but we will find out who will be in a year!