Benouua Alexander - biography and paintings by the artist in the genre of AR Nouveau - Art Challenge. Russian Modern

Self portrait 1896 (paper, mascara, feather)

Biography Alexander Benois

Benua Alexander Nikolaevich (1870-1960) Artist-schedule, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of the Russian Modern.

A. N. Benua was born in the family of a famous architect and grew in an atmosphere of honoring art, but did not receive art education. He studied at the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time he independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mostly watercolor). It did it so thoroughly that he managed to write the chapter about Russian art for the third volume "painting history in the XIX century" R. Mother, published in 1894

He was immediately spoken about him as a talented art historian who turned the established ideas about the development of domestic art. In 1897, on the impressions of trips to France, he created the first serious work - a series of watercolors "the last walks of Louis XIV," - showing himself an original artist.

Repeated trips to Italy and France and copying artistic treasures there, the study of the writings of Saint-Simon, the literature of the West of the XVII-XIX centuries., Interest in the ancient engraving was the foundation of his artistic education. In 1893, Benois made a landscape officer, creating watercolors of the surroundings of St. Petersburg. In 1897-1898, he writes a watercolor and a gouache series of landscape paintings by Versailles Parks, having recreated the spirit and atmosphere of antiquity in them.

By the end of 19, the beginning of the 20th century, Benua is back to the landscapes of Peterhof, Oranienbaum, Pavlovsk. He glorifies the beauty and greatness of the architecture of the XVIII century. Nature is interested in the artist mainly in her connection with the history. Possessing a pedagogical gift and erudition, he at the end of the XIX century. Organized the unification of the "World of Art", becoming his theoretical and inspiration. He worked a lot in the book graphics. Often spoke in the press and every week published his "artistic letters" (1908-16) in the newspaper "Speech".

No less fruitfully worked as a historian of art: published in two releases (1901, 1902) who received wide fame of the book "Russian painting in the XIX century", substantially recycling his early essay for her; He began to produce serial editions "Russian School of Painting" and "The History of Painting All Times and Peoples" (1910-17; the publication was interrupted with the beginning of the revolution) and the magazine "Artistic Treasures of Russia"; Created a wonderful "Hermitage Picture Gallery Guide" (1911).

After the 1917 revolution, Benoit took an active part in the work of various organizations related mainly to the protection of monuments of art and antiquity, and from 1918 he also took up the museum business - began to head the art gallery of the Hermitage. It was developed and successfully implemented a completely new plan of the common, the museum's exposition that contributed to the most expressive demonstration of each work.

At the beginning of the XX century. Benoit illustrates the works of Pushkin A.S. It acts as a critic and historian of art. In the 1910s, people fall into the center of interests of the artist. Such is his picture "Peter I on a walk in the summer garden," where the appearance of the last life seen by the eyes of a contemporary is recreated in a multi-digurine scene.

The work of Benois-artist resolutely prevailed history. Two topics invariably enjoyed his attention: "Petersburg XVIII - early XIX century." and "France Louis XIV". He turned to them first in his historical compositions - in two "Versailles series" (1897, 1905-06), in the widely known pictures "Parade with Pavel I" (1907), "Event of Catherine II in the Tsarskoselsky Palace" (1907 ) And others, reproducing a long life with deep knowledge and a subtle sense of style. The same topics, in essence, were devoted to both his numerous intensive landscapes, which he usually performed in St. Petersburg and his suburbs, then in Versailles (Benua regularly traveled to France and lived there for a long time). In the history of Russian book graphics, the artist entered his book "ABC in the paintings of Alexander Beno'a" (1905) and illustrations for the "peak lady" A. S. Pushkin, filled in two versions (1899, 1910), as well as wonderful illustrations for the copper rider ", Three options for which he devoted almost twenty years of labor (1903-22).

At the same years, it takes part in the design of the "Russian seasons" organized by Dyagilev S.P. In Paris, which included not only opera and ballet productions, but also symphony concerts in their program.

Benouua issued Opera R. Wagner "The Death of Gods" on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater and followed the sketches of scenery to the ballet N. N. Cenenin "Pavilion Armida" (1903), whose libretto composed himself. The passion for ballet was so strong that, on the initiative of Benois and, with his direct participation, a private ballet troupe was organized, which began in 1909, triumphal performances in Paris - "Russian seasons". Benoit, who took the post director of the artistic part in the troupe, executed registration to several performances.

One of its top achievements was the scenery to the ballet I. F. Stravinsky "Parsley" (1911). Soon, Benua began cooperation with MHT, where he successfully designed two performances on the plays of J.-B. Moliere (1913) and for some time even participated in the leadership 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: "Walk of the king" (1906), "fantasy to the Versailles" (1906), "Italian comedy" (1906), illustrations to the copper rider Pushkin A.S. (1903) and others.

R Abote over the picture in the workshop, the creation of sketches of theatrical costumes and scenery, preparation for the publication of the next article on art ... So was the usual day of Alexander Benoit - artist, criticism, art historian and theatrical figure.

From the dynasty of Benois

Alexander Benois was born in St. Petersburg in the family of architect Nikolai Benua and his wife Camilla. Among the relatives of Alexander Benua was Albert Kavos, the creator of the Mariinsky Theater project, the actor Peter Ustinov, the artist Zinaida Serebryakov. It is almost half of the representatives of the culture of the Silver Age, one way or another were associated with the genus of Beno'a.

In his memoirs, the artist emphasized that his artistic and aesthetic views shaped two categories of experiences. The first and most stronger is the theater. Alexander Benois forever connected the concept of "artistry" with the concept of "theatricality". It is on stage that, in his opinion, it is possible to achieve the highest goal of art - the synthesis of arts. The second category of experiences is the impressions of acquaintance with St. Petersburg royal residences and suburbs.

"From these diverse Peterhof's impressions ... probably, the entire further cult of Peterhof, Tsarsky village, Versailles occurred.

Alexander Benois

"It is widely covered as possible and study as much as possible.

Alexander Benois studied in the private gymnasium of Charles May in St. Petersburg. Here he got close to Sergey Dyagilev and other participants in the future "world of art". Some time attended the evening classes of the Academy of Arts. Brother Albert was taught the main skills of painting.

Alexander Benois believed that only the self-education could be achieved perfection in his profession. Throughout his life, he studied visual art, became brilliant art historical. Among his works is the chapter on Russian artists for the German collection "History of painting of the XIX century", "The History of Painting All Times and Peoples", one of the best Hermitage Guidebooks and much more.

"To the simplest and faithful images of reality"

"In me," Pasisism "began to affect how something completely natural in early childhood. ... Much in the past it seems to me well and long known, perhaps, even more familiar than the present.<...> I and the attitude to the past are more tender, more love, rather than to the real. "

Alexander Benois

Particularly often, Benoit writes Tsarsky Petersburg and its palace and park ensembles, scenes from the life of historical characters, landscapes of France and Versailles.

Benua wrote an "alphabet in pictures" and created illustrations for the "copper rider" and the "peak lady" Alexander Pushkin, who entered the history of book graphics.

A special place in his work is occupied by the theater. Benua created decorations to productions, developed sketches of costumes. He helped execute several performances for Russian seasons in Paris.

Alexander Benoit in the Gorky Commission

Alexander Benua fought for the preservation of cultural heritage. Immediately after the October Revolution, he worked closely with Maxim Gorky in the Commission on the Protection of Art Monuments. The artist was one of the first who visited the Winter Palace after his assault and described it in his memories.

Beno'a helped restore the activities of the Russian Museum and to make a new exposition of the art of the XVIII-XX centuries. Later, the artist became the head of the art gallery in the State Hermitage, in parallel conducted research work.

He also worked on the preservation of architectural monuments of St. Petersburg and his suburbs, and he covered the results of his work in a series of articles.

"This is a national property, this is our good, and it is necessary to do everything from us that the people realize and so that he entered the possession of what belongs to him. The very idea of \u200b\u200bthe nationality of any art, all of the fact that people from the people put their ideals of beauty, this idea should now appear and ride with a special force. "

Alexander Benois

Aesthetic views of the "Art World"

A circle "The World of Art" (like his magazine) became, according to Benoit, "practical necessity." There was a crisis in society a crisis, and artists needed a new vector motion. Journal introduced an audience with Western classics and modern, domestic painting and architecture.

At various times, Valentin Serov, Isaac Levitan, Mikhail Nesterov, Mikhail Vrubel, Lion Bakst, Konstantin Somov, and, of course, Sergey Dyagilev. Shared the views of Mirisknikov and Ilya Repin.

"We managed not so much of the idea of \u200b\u200bthe ideological order, how many considerations of practical need. A number of young artists had nowhere to go. "

Alexander Benois

"The world of art" declared beauty the main goal of creativity. The subjectivity of this goal gave artists complete freedom - both when choosing the theme and when choosing artistic agents.

Author - Parashutov. This is a quote of this message.

ZhZL (Alexander Benoa di Stetthto. Unknown name from the Beno'a dynasty.)

In 2006, a large art project "Alexander Benoa Di Stetto started in Russia. Return to Russia ", organized by the St. Petersburg Public Foundation for Promoting Culture and Art. More than thirty museums of the country took part in this project, where the artist's retrospectives were held - Russian Museum (2006), Tretyakov Gallery (2007), Provincial Museums of Tyumen and Kazan (2008), Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Kursk, Tula, Rostov, Great, Kostroma, Novgorod (2011), Pskov, Kolomna and other cities. It was then that, in 2006, the name of the new member of the Benua dynasty was discovered for themselves for themselves, many admirers of fine arts (and specialists, probably, if they knew about the existence of this artist, did not hurry to share with all these knowledge). At the same time, after the start of the exhibition tour of Swiss Benoit, many museum Internet resources wrote. "Safety" repeating everywhere information, I tried to make a biographical material. So, Meet!

Alexander Siegfried Benoa di Stetto
Alexandre Siegfried Benois Di Stetto

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Self-portrait. 1943

Swiss painter of Russian origin, schedule, scene, designer. The representative of the famous numerous dynasty of artists and architects of Beno'a. He wrote portraits, landscapes, still lifes, was an animal, created architectural and plastic compositions and objects of decorative and applied art.

Parents

Alexandra Father was a famous architect of Jewish origin Gregory (Siegfried) Yakovlevich Levy (1850 - after 1923), which was born in Switzerland. Siegfried graduated from Munich Polytechnic School and arrived in St. Petersburg in 1878. Here he began to cooperate with the architect Leonthy Nikolayevich Benois (11 (23) August 1856 - February 8, 1928).

Leonty Nikolaevich Benois

Together they designed profitable homes and industrial buildings in St. Petersburg. In the 1900s, the project of Siegfried Levi and Konstantin Nimana was, for example, a proficient house for Pel's pharmacist was built. In 1912, on the Levi project, a galic typography on Rimsky-Korsakov Street was built. The architect belongs to projects and buildings in St. Petersburg at a large sea street (1898-1899), Kronverksky Avenue (1879-1882) and on the 7th line of Vasilyevsky Island (1907-1910).
Head of Siegfried - L.N. Benua, was the brother of the famous artist Alexander Nikolaevich Benoit and Kommersant Alexander Leontievich Benoit (1817-1875). Alexander Leontievich since June 1860 he lived with his wife in Hamburg, where he kept the stationery store, which he got after the death of his wife's parents - German Mary Faxen. And where his children were born - the eldest son Alexander and the youngest daughter of Clara Alice.
Here on the daughter of Alexander Leontievich - Clare Alis (1867-?), Siegfried Levi, who became Gregory in Russia, and married. One of the descendants of Benoit, the grand-nephew Clara Alexandrovna G.G. Benoit in his memoirs expressed the idea that "this marriage in the family of Benua Big enthusiasm did not cause", arguing that "even in the memoirs of Alexander Nikolayevich Benoit, who wrote in detail and with love about all relatives, his cousin Clara is mentioned a couple of times .
Clara gave Siegfried two sons - Alexander and Eugene (1898-?). Alexander was born, like Junior Eugene, in St. Petersburg, his godfather was uncle Leonty Benua.
In his autobiography, Shura (so called the artist at home) wrote "I entered the twentieth century at the age of four and together with a new century experienced the most important events in the history of art, participating in them."
Already at an early age, the boy showed interest in drawing. It did not surprise anyone, because his father was an architect, his native uncle Alexander Alexandrovich Benois - Konsky (June 22, 1852 - August 3, 1928) and cousin Albert (1888 - 1960) were artists.

Alexander Alexandrovich Benois (Konsky)

In addition, Alexander was the grandson of Alexander Leontievich Benouua, the native nephew of the artist Alexander Nikolayevich Benoit and architect Leonty Nikolayevich Benua, as well as the secondary brother Evgeny Lancer and Zinaida Serebryakova. As Serebryakov said "All the boys of Benua were born with a pencil in his hands." Therefore, it was necessary to keep the "brand" of the dynasty, which, of course, played a big role in the formation of the artistic worldview of the future artist.

Study

The initial artistic formation of Shura received at home, good, relative teachers were, even debt.
In 1912, Alexander entered the drawing school of the Society for the Promotion of Arts, led Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerich (September 27 (October 9) 1874 - December 13, 1947). Teachers at school were also excellent: the schedule was taught Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (4 (16) August 1876 - February 7, 1942), composition - Rerich himself, engraving - Vasily Vasilyevich Mates. (February 23 (March 6) 1856 - 9 (22) April 1917).

Alexander Golovin Portrait of the artist N.K.rerich. 1907
Ivan Bilibin

Valentin Serov Mate Vasily Vasilyevich (engraving)
P.I. Neradovsky portrait of Arkady Alexandrovich Rylov. 1924

Animal class and composition drawing Arkady Alexandrovich Rylov (17 (29) January 1870 - June 22, 1939). Historians write that the rylov preferred work on his classes only with alive models. "Twice a week in the morning he went to Schukin market or in zoological stores, traded some beast or a bird for rent and he himself delivered to school to school to go. First, students painted sedentary little animals - rabbit, eagle, philina, then more restless - cats, dogs, monkeys ... ".
Alexander Levi school graduated from school in 1916. In the summer of the same year, the young man, together with his brother, went "to the Plenuary" to the Belgorod Curchi Province's Belgorod County to the estate Zinaide Serebryakova (December 12, 1884 - September 19, 1967). Zinaida Evgenievna by that time was already a married woman and the famous artist, as historians write, "her work was experiencing a heyday." In the same 1916, the artist received an order for the painting of the Kazan Station in Moscow, since 1911 she was already a member of the Society "World of Art".
In the estate unbalance in thirty versts from Kharkov, where there was an old house of Catherine times, a large garden and a river Muromka, Alexander engaged in painting all summer, he not only watched the work of Serebryakova, but also used her advice and tips. Several sheets with watercolor sketches depicting the peasants, for example, "The girl from the Neskuchny village" (1916) is preserved. Let me remind you that Serebryakova in these years wrote a series of paintings on the themes of peasant work and life in the village ("The White Canvas", 1917). The relative, besides, wrote portraits of Sasha and Zhenya Levi.

Zinaida Serebryakova Alexander Levi-Benua di Stetto. 1916

Zinaida Serebryakova Evgeny Levy-Benois. 1916

The mother of Zinaida in a letter to her husband on June 8, 1916 wrote: "Children of cheerful and healthy. The ringing paints the Mashutka, as well as the leva brothers who are very cute, educated people, and children love them. "

Next year, the Russian empire has become a young country of tips.
In 1918, Alexander Levi, for the family tradition, entered the architectural department of Petrograd state free art workshops (PGSM). That is how the highest art school at the Imperial Academy of Arts became known in 1918. In 1921, these workshops will be renamed Vhutemas (the highest artistic workshops).
Alexandra's native brother from 1915 to 1921 studied at the St. Petersburg technological institute and received the title of engineer-technologist.
In PSSHME, Alexander studied in the workshop of uncle and the godfather - Leonty Nikolayevich Benoit. Benouua put in front of his students complex compositional tasks that were aimed at skillfully tie an architectural object to the environment. However, the interests of the Levi student were diverse, except for software architecture, he was interested in painting, mastered different graphic techniques - coal, watercolor and Sangin.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Academic drawing.

When the academic school was reorganized in 1918, Leonty Nikolayevich expressed his opinion that this would undoubtedly lead to chaos. But, faithful to his disciples, he continued to teach. Three years later, the professor and academician recalled his words. In March 1920, Leontius Benua, together with his wife and children, was arrested. Historians write that one of the reasons could appear and the fact that his youngest daughter Nadia Benois married the German submarine von Ustinova was married (and this was just over world war, where the Germans were our enemies!) And in the same 1920 moved to England. In general, "the authorities in everything sorted out" and in June freed the professors with his family. But for Alexander, however, as for all relatives, this arrest has become a shock.
If no reason is arrested by an elderly person, a well-deserved academician and an experienced teacher, the fact that others can be expecting from the new power? I will make a reservation that L.N. Benua was able to "make friends" with the councils, and in 1927 even awarded the title "Honored Artist of the RSFSR".
On the family council, a decision was made - in order to "stay with a free person and freely engage in favorite deed", sons need to leave the country.

Emigration

In 1921, Alexander, together with his brother Evgeny left Russia. Then they did not know that they were not destined to return to their homeland, and that there are long months of wandering and deprivation ahead of them. Illegally, the Levy brothers moved first to Finland. Father, in Petrograd, advised to go to his homeland - in Switzerland.
The Swiss Consul in Helsinki helped brothers with documents, as their father was a citizen of Switzerland. The issued documents made this citizenship and contained a request "freely and unhindered to miss the Swiss citizen Alexander Siegfried Burchand Levi, who leaves from Teroki through Helsinki to Germany, and from there to Switzerland."
In 1922, the brothers across Germany went to Switzerland, where, most likely, the paths of Alexander and Eugene died. Looking ahead and to no longer return to the fate of Evgeny, I will inform you that Alexander's brother has worked at the Ford's automotive factory in Switzerland. In 1927, he was sent to Turkey from the factory, then in Tehran. During 1934-1937, Evgeny Benua-Levi traveled the entire Middle East. In 1937, he was appointed director of Ford's branch in Switzerland. Evgeny Benoit Levi to the very death of Lausanne with his big family - he had two sons and two daughters.

Switzerland

Alexander arrived in Switzerland and settled in the Alpine village of Shtten (Stetten), where about a thousand people lived, and where Siegfried Levi's ancestors were born - the artist's father. Surprisingly, in almost all sources, this village is called Stett (?). After all, since the state language of Switzerland is German, then the name Stetten is translated from both Shtten. The village was in Canton Argau, which was famous as a picturesque valley, as well as the mountains of Lindenberg and Wasserfluhe. Beautiful, and only!

Alexander Benoa di Stetto in the mountains. 1935

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Mountain peaks 1937

It is clear why one of the main genres in the work of Alexander in the first years of emigration was the landscape. But his paintings did not meet understanding from the local population, and in order to somehow come down, the artist had to work in the Corovnik.
Life in the village was calm, but boring and uninteresting. Not wanting to put up with creative insulation, the artist decided to move to Bern. In the capital, Alexander very quickly met with the society of local artists. As a result, in the first year of his stay in Bern, the artist managed to win the city competition for the official order - the portrait of the President of the Swiss Confederation, the leader of the Catholic Conservative Party, and since 1920, the head of the Political Department (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Giuseppe Motta (1871-1940) .
The first major official order brought Aleksandra a solid fee, and the portrait turned out to be successful. It was from the portrait of Motta that Levi's fame began on a foreign land, he began to receive orders for portraits, to participate in city exhibitions, newspapers began to write about him.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Clarence.

The artist believed in himself as in the portraitist. This genre allowed Alexander to declare himself as a professional painter. He wrote portraits of both pharmacists and shopkeepers and lawyers and representatives of Bern's intelligentsia. But, as historians write, the "representativeness and monumentality of these portraits sometimes prevail over the depth of the figurative characteristic."

Alexander Benoa di Stetto children's portrait.

At the same time, the artist adopted Switzerland's citizenship and received new documents with the new name. Alexander took the Mother's name Maiden, because he had long dreamed of this and was proud to belong to the Beno'a clan. And in order to differ from her eminent uncle, who was also Alexander Benoit, the newly newly added the name of the native village of Father Shtten - di Stetto to his last name for Italian Floor.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Self-portrait.

In one of the archival documents of April 15, 1923, the artist is named by a Swiss citizen Alexander Benoa di Stetthto. Under this name, he entered the history of European arts of the twentieth century. Having lived a couple of years in Bern, the artist decided to go to the city, where all artists of the world began to get into - in Paris. Where he himself also dreamed of getting.

Paris - MON AMOR!

In 1924, Alexander arrived in Paris. In France, the artist earned a living by portraits. In 1924, he wrote a portrait of a famous Danish violinist Camilla Singer. A passionate novel broke out between young people, and in the same year Kama (Alexander called her alone) became Mrs. Benua.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Portrait of Kama.

I note that the spouses lived together for more than fifty years. For the sake of her husband, Kama sacrificed his musical career, during World War II, when he lived at all not just even in neutral Switzerland, Kama sold his violin Guardarry, who else to her ancestors. Art historians note that after that, "the artist began to appear on many still lifes, the violin often began to appear."
Benoa di Stetto wrote his wife very often, Kama remained his beloved model over the years. And as if the artist did not depict his wife - with a cat, behind the needlework, against the background of attributes of art, - in all the pictures, he demonstrate his tenderness, creating lyrical female images.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Portrait of Kama. 1940

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Alexander Benoa di Stetto. Portrait of a kama in a white bitter. 1945

If you compare portraits of Kama with Aleksandra autoports, it can be noted that the lyrics of the Kama artist opposes its own gusts of emotions and energy energy.

Historians calculated that self-portraits and portraits of Kama, along with numerous landscapes, constitute a significant part of the creative heritage of Benoa Di Stett. I will add that Alexander is fascinated by painting and wife. Kama created still lifes, and specialists who saw these works talked about outstanding abilities.
In Paris, in addition to painting, Alexander debuted as the theater decorator.

Close distant relatives

I note that in the mid-1920s, other representatives of the Beno'a dynasty began to go to Paris.
In the fall of 1924, receiving an order for a large decorative panel, Zinaida Serebryakov arrived in Paris. She failed to return to Russia, and the artist turned out to be torn off from children left at home. In 1947 she received French citizenship, able to transport two younger children, continued to work fruitfully and died in Paris at the age of 82 in 1967.

Zinaida Serebryakov Self-portrait. 1938
Sergey Ivanov Benua Alexander Nikolaevich. 1944

A year later, in 1925, "Chief Miriskusnik", Alexander Nikolaevich Benua, arrived in Paris to the international exhibition of modern decorative and industrial arts. In 1926, the artist again arrived in France for his personal exhibition.
He will no longer return to his homeland, although there were no plans to emigrate from Benua. After all, in Russia he is with
1918 headed the art gallery of the Hermitage, making his full catalog, worked on the design of the performance of the BDT and as a Book Illustrator.
This is a separate story why Benua, seeking to return to his homeland, could not get there.
Initially, the Master even was confronted by the emigrant environment, he worked as a consultant on artistic issues in the Soviet Institution, in 1929 he even reads lectures at the Russian Art Academy in Paris. "It's very nice here, as for the decorative side of life - but oh! As uncomfortable in the soul. As I would like to seem to be again on the banks of the Neva, "the artist wrote in 1928.
At the end of 1930, Benois is expelled from the Hermitage, and the last hope of return collapses.
"My health does not allow me to return to the pretty homeland, to your real case, - and here for anything you will take, in all you immediately recognize fumes and meaninglessness," the artist wrote later. Benoa makes himself look courageous in front of relatives, but he became old and sick, and he has no close friends in Paris. "Not being an emigrant on convictions, I whatened the dim Emigrant existence" - Alexander Nikolayevich summarized in his memories. In Paris, the artist worked mainly over the sketches of theatrical scenery and costumes for ballet entrepreneurs of Dyagilev. He died on February 9, 1960.
All this is writing to state: Having live in Paris for four years, Swiss Benoit, in my opinion, did not communicate with his relatives. As historians wrote, "he did not slal the letters from their Russian notebook.

Berlin

In 1926, the artist was invited to work in Berlin. Invitation came from the director of the Berlin "New Theater" (Deutscheces Theater), the famous German director-Novator Max Reinhardt (Max Reinhardt, September 9, 1873 - October 31, 1943).

Max Reinhardt

Reinhardt was headed by this famous Drama Theater Berlin since 1905, he was as followed by the head of the theater before the beginning of the First World War, and later with several interruptions until 1933. After coming to power to the Nazis, the director was forced to emigrate from the country in the United States.
In 1924-1926, Bertolt Brecht worked on the office of the playwright, the theater school was founded at the theater. The repertoire of the "New Theater" was a German classic, a lot of Shakespeare, antique and Russian dramaturgy. In the 1920s, the so-called theater trust was organized, that is, a forced temporary financial association of a German theater with other Berlin theaters was carried out. Therefore, Benois di Stetto was invited to the dramatic theater for the formulation of the Opera Mozart "Abduction from Seraral" on the play K. F. Bretcner "Belmont and Constanta".

"Deutsches Theater"

At work on the performance, Alexander talent, as a theater artist, an experimenter, who created grand scenery, saturated with the latest technical ideas, was revealed. Reinhardt himself also liked to use new means of theatrical technology, he, for example, one of the first began to use the rotating scene. Therefore, the cooperation of two talents was fruitful.
In the same 1926, Benoit Di Stetto received the Grand Prix of the City Festival of Arts "For the design of an opera performance."
There, in Berlin, the artist created a series of animal sketches from nature. In the Berlin Zoo, he wrote predators (leopard, jaguar, lion), monkeys and other animals.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Leopard, who prepared for a jump. 1927

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Black Panther. 1927

Geneva

In 1929, Alexander and his wife Kama finally returned to Switzerland and settled in Geneva, where he spent the rest of his life.
The artist fruitfully worked, carried out the monumental-decorative paintings of public buildings, was engaged in an industrial design, created sketches for carpets, developed outline of the body and finishing car salons for rich customers, including for crowned persons. I assume that these car orders the artist performed at the Ford plant and on the recommendation of his brother Eugene. However, in the first place he always stood painting.

After the personal exhibition in the Swiss town of Oltene, Benoit Di Stetto was recognized as the country's artistic public. The artist began to actively exhibit in Geneva, participated in collective exhibitions in Germany and France.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Self-portrait. 1930

Alexander Benoa di Stetto Still Life.

Alexander Benoa di Stetto without a name.

Along with his wife, Alexander traveled a lot in Europe, visited Munich, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bCopenhagen and Gothengh, visited Bern, Paris and Berlin. Traveling, the artist created many landscape and architectural sketches of these old European cities. In these works, the flags inherent in these places.

Alexander Benoa di Stettto urban fountain.

Self-portrait. 1896 (paper, mascara, feather)

Benua Alexander Nikolaevich

Markism bath. 1906

Carnival-on-fontanka.

Italian comedy. "Lovemark" .1907g.

Summer garden under Peter Great. 1902

Pavilion. 1906

Oranienbaum. Japanese Hall 1901g.

Embankment Rey in Basel in the rain.1902g

Masquerade under Louis 14. 1898

Parade with Pavel 1. 1907.

Wedding walk. 1906

Paris. Carridge. 1927

Peterhof. Flower beds under a big palace. 1918

Peterhof. Lower fountain at the cascade. 1942

Peterhof. Chief fountain. 1942

Peterhof. Big cascade. 1901-17

Alexander Benua's biography.

Benua Alexander Nikolaevich (1870-1960) Artist-schedule, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of the Russian Modern.

A. N. Benua was born in the family of a famous architect and grew in an atmosphere of honoring art, but did not receive art education. He studied at the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time he independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mostly watercolor). It did it so thoroughly that he managed to write the chapter about Russian art for the third volume "painting history in the XIX century" R. Mother, published in 1894

He was immediately spoken about him as a talented art historian who turned the established ideas about the development of domestic art. In 1897, on the impressions of trips to France, he created the first serious work - a series of watercolors "the last walks of Louis XIV," - showing himself an original artist.

Repeated trips to Italy and France and copying artistic treasures there, the study of the writings of Saint-Simon, the literature of the West of the XVII-XIX centuries., Interest in the ancient engraving was the foundation of his artistic education. In 1893, Benois made a landscape officer, creating watercolors of the surroundings of St. Petersburg. In 1897-1898, he writes a watercolor and a gouache series of landscape paintings by Versailles Parks, having recreated the spirit and atmosphere of antiquity in them.

By the end of 19, the beginning of the 20th century, Benua is back to the landscapes of Peterhof, Oranienbaum, Pavlovsk. He glorifies the beauty and greatness of the architecture of the XVIII century. Nature is interested in the artist mainly in her connection with the history. Possessing a pedagogical gift and erudition, he at the end of the XIX century. Organized the unification of the "World of Art", becoming his theoretical and inspiration. He worked a lot in the book graphics. Often spoke in the press and every week published his "artistic letters" (1908-16) in the newspaper "Speech".

No less fruitfully worked as a historian of art: published in two releases (1901, 1902) who received wide fame of the book "Russian painting in the XIX century", substantially recycling his early essay for her; He began to produce serial editions "Russian School of Painting" and "The History of Painting All Times and Peoples" (1910-17; the publication was interrupted with the beginning of the revolution) and the magazine "Artistic Treasures of Russia"; Created a wonderful "Hermitage Picture Gallery Guide" (1911).

After the 1917 revolution, Benoit took an active part in the work of various organizations related mainly to the protection of monuments of art and antiquity, and from 1918 he also took up the museum business - began to head the art gallery of the Hermitage. It was developed and successfully implemented a completely new plan of the common, the museum's exposition that contributed to the most expressive demonstration of each work.

At the beginning of the XX century. Benoit illustrates the works of Pushkin A.S. It acts as a critic and historian of art. In the 1910s, people fall into the center of interests of the artist. Such is his picture "Peter I on a walk in the summer garden," where the appearance of the last life seen by the eyes of a contemporary is recreated in a multi-digurine scene.

The work of Benois-artist resolutely prevailed history. Two topics invariably enjoyed his attention: "Petersburg XVIII - early XIX century." and "France Louis XIV". He turned to them first in his historical compositions - in two "Versailles series" (1897, 1905-06), in the widely known pictures "Parade with Pavel I" (1907), "Event of Catherine II in the Tsarskoselsky Palace" (1907 ) And others, reproducing a long life with deep knowledge and a subtle sense of style. The same topics, in essence, were devoted to both his numerous intensive landscapes, which he usually performed in St. Petersburg and his suburbs, then in Versailles (Benua regularly traveled to France and lived there for a long time). In the history of Russian book graphics, the artist entered his book "ABC in the paintings of Alexander Beno'a" (1905) and illustrations for the "peak lady" A. S. Pushkin, filled in two versions (1899, 1910), as well as wonderful illustrations for the copper rider ", Three options for which he devoted almost twenty years of labor (1903-22).

At the same years, it takes part in the design of the "Russian seasons" organized by Dyagilev S.P. In Paris, which included not only opera and ballet productions, but also symphony concerts in their program.

Benouua issued Opera R. Wagner "The Death of Gods" on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater and followed the sketches of scenery to the ballet N. N. Cenenin "Pavilion Armida" (1903), whose libretto composed himself. The passion for ballet was so strong that, on the initiative of Benois and, with his direct participation, a private ballet troupe was organized, which began in 1909, triumphal performances in Paris - "Russian seasons". Benoit, who took the post director of the artistic part in the troupe, executed registration to several performances.

One of its top achievements was the scenery to the ballet I. F. Stravinsky "Parsley" (1911). Soon, Benua began cooperation with MHT, where he successfully designed two performances on the plays of J.-B. Moliere (1913) and for some time even participated in the leadership 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: "Walk of the king" (1906), "fantasy to the Versailles" (1906), "Italian comedy" (1906), illustrations to the copper rider Pushkin A.S. (1903) and others

(To see the description of the book, click on the picture)

Self portrait 1896 (paper, mascara, feather)

Biography Alexander Benois

Benua Alexander Nikolaevich (1870-1960) Artist-schedule, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of the Russian Modern.

A. N. Benua was born in the family of a famous architect and grew in an atmosphere of honoring art, but did not receive art education. He studied at the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time he independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mostly watercolor). It did it so thoroughly that he managed to write the chapter about Russian art for the third volume "painting history in the XIX century" R. Mother, published in 1894

He was immediately spoken about him as a talented art historian who turned the established ideas about the development of domestic art. In 1897, on the impressions of trips to France, he created the first serious work - a series of watercolors "the last walks of Louis XIV," - showing himself an original artist.