Benois, Alexander Nikolayevich
(1870-1960)

Alexander Benois was born 21.4 (3.5) .1870 in St. Petersburg in the family of a professor of architecture and the architect of the highest court of Nicholas Leontyevich Benoit, who was the son of Louis Jules Benois, who came from France. Grandfather Alexander II's maternal Katarinovich Albert Kavos, Venetian by birth, was the builder of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Alexander Benoit grew up in an atmosphere of exceptional artistry, he attended classes at the Academy of Fine Arts, but considered himself autodidact (self-taught). In his memoirs, he wrote: "My interest in the works of the imagination, naturally led me to the" znatochestvu "became apparent from a very early age. They will say that the born and brought up in an artistic family, I just could not avoid such a "family contagion" that I could not help but be interested in art - one around me was so many people, starting with my father, who knew a lot about it and had the artistic talent . However, among the media (I do not deny its value), but it certainly was embedded in me something that was not in the other, in the same environment to bring up, and it made me differently and with greater intensity to absorb any experiences. "

From 1885 to 1890 Alexander goes to "the May school" in St. Petersburg, in which he approaches the DV Filosofov, S. and K. Andreyevich V.F.Nuvelem. In 1890 they were joined by S.P.Dyagilev, cousin Filosofova, music A.P.Nurok and artist Leon Bakst. A few years later the circle was converted to the editor of the art magazine "World of Art" (1898 - 1904).

In 1887, Alexander Benois, attending evening classes at the Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1893, Benoit interested in copying the old Dutch in the Hermitage.

After graduation in 1894, Alexander Benois marries Anne Karlovna Kind.

In 1893, Benoit announced himself as a talented art historian, art historical writing an article about Russian art for the third volume of "Die Geschichte der Malerel im XIX Jahrhundert" ("History of Painting XIX century" R. Mutter), released in 1894 for this followed by "History of Russian Painting" (1901 - 1902), "Russian school of painting" (1904), "Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III" (1906), "Tsarskoye Selo during the reign of Empress Elizabeth" (1911), "Guide to the Art Gallery Hermitage "(1910)," The history of painting of all time "(1912 - 1917, remained unfinished.)

From 1895 to 1899 Benoit is the keeper of the meeting, donated the book. M. Tenisheva Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

In 1897, after returning from France, has created a series of watercolors "The last walk of Louis XIV", which earned him a reputation as an artist.

His name is related to the emergence in 1898, the association "World of Art", co-founder and ideological leader of which he was. Alexander gets together with S. Diaghilev editor of the magazine "World of Art" and is directly involved in the trade shows where he established the Society of society.

In 1900, within months of styles teaches history at the School of Baron Stieglitz.

Benoit was both a painter and art theorist, he is the author of many books on the history of art and culture in general. In his first book, "The History of Russian painting in the XIX Century" (1900 - 1902) and in the articles of the early 1900's. art critic criticized the academic art, aesthetics NGChernyshevsky and citizenship painting Wanderers. The main criterion for evaluation of works of art Benoit considered them "artistry." He was a passionate advocate of the classical heritage and initiated the creation of a number of art books and museums. From 1901 - 1903 GG Alexander Benois wrote many articles on art, architecture, music, theater, etc., are placed in which he founded in 1901, is art-historical book "Art Treasures of Russia, in the magazine" World of Art "," Moscow weekly "," Old years, "the" Golden Fleece ". Since 1904, published in the newspapers: "The Word", "Rus" and "Speech".

In 1911 saw the release of his "Guide to the Art Gallery of the Hermitage", from 1910 to 1917. - Serials "Stories painting of all time."

Capital works A.Benua are "Russian school of painting", "Tsarskoye Selo" and "General History of Painting," which came out in 1904, in 1910 and in 1911 The latest edition was left unfinished due to changes as a result of the war and the revolution in living conditions.

Alexander Benoit took an active part in organizing major exhibitions: "Russian Portrait" in St. Petersburg in 1902 and 1905. "Russian Art" in Paris in 1906, the historic architecture in St. Petersburg in 1911, "Years Old" in St. Petersburg in 1908, the big "Russian exhibition" in Brussels in 1928, and others

His work was represented by Alexander Benois exhibitions of the Society watercolors (since 1891), the "World of Art" (from 1897), "Modern Art" (1903), "Salon" C. Makovsky International in Rome (1911), " Russian Art "in Belgrade (1930) and Prague (1935) and others shows devoted to the works of Alexander Benois, held in Paris in 1926 and in Como in 1955

The first performance artist in the theater became the backdrop for the opera A Taneyev "Cupid's Revenge" at the Court Theatre Hermitage 1900