Benois, Alexander (1870-1960) -1907 Military Parade of Emperor Paul in Front of Mikhaylovsky Castle
Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois was an influential artist, art critic, historian, preservationist, and founding member of Mir iskusstva. His influence on the modern ballet and stage design is considered seminal. He was born into the artistic and intellectual Benois family. Alexandre's father and brother Leon Benois were noted architects. Alexandre didn't plan to devote his life to art and graduated from the Faculty of Law, St. Petersburg University. Three years later, while in Versailles, he painted a series of watercolors depicting Last Promenades of Louis XIV. When exhibited by Pavel Tretyakov they brought him to attention of Sergei Diaghilev and Leon Bakst. Together they founded the art movement Mir iskusstva which aimed at promoting the Aesthetic Movement and Art Nouveau in Russia.
During the 1910s, Benois continued to edit Mir iskusstva and pursue his scholarly interests. He printed several monographs on 19th-century Russian art. From 1918 to 1926, he ran the gallery of Old Masters in the Hermitage Museum. In 1903, he printed his illustrations to Pushkin's Bronze Horseman which have since been recognized as one of the landmarks in the genre. In 1901, Benois was appointed scenic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. Since then, he devoted most of his time to stage design and decor. Although he worked primarily with Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, he simultaneously collaborated with the Moscow Art Theatre and other notable theatres of Europe.
Benois, Alexander (1870-1960) -1907 Military Parade of Emperor Paul in Front of Mikhaylovsky Castle
Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois was an influential artist, art critic, historian, preservationist, and founding member of Mir iskusstva. His influence on the modern ballet and stage design is considered seminal. He was born into the artistic and intellectual Benois family. Alexandre's father and brother Leon Benois were noted architects. Alexandre didn't plan to devote his life to art and graduated from the Faculty of Law, St. Petersburg University. Three years later, while in Versailles, he painted a series of watercolors depicting Last Promenades of Louis XIV. When exhibited by Pavel Tretyakov they brought him to attention of Sergei Diaghilev and Leon Bakst. Together they founded the art movement Mir iskusstva which aimed at promoting the Aesthetic Movement and Art Nouveau in Russia.
During the 1910s, Benois continued to edit Mir iskusstva and pursue his scholarly interests. He printed several monographs on 19th-century Russian art. From 1918 to 1926, he ran the gallery of Old Masters in the Hermitage Museum. In 1903, he printed his illustrations to Pushkin's Bronze Horseman which have since been recognized as one of the landmarks in the genre. In 1901, Benois was appointed scenic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. Since then, he devoted most of his time to stage design and decor. Although he worked primarily with Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, he simultaneously collaborated with the Moscow Art Theatre and other notable theatres of Europe.