BENOIT Alexander

Born in St. Petersburg on April 21 (3 May) 1870 the son of renowned architect NL Benois. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1887), but the basic skills of painting has received from his brother Albert, watercolor and architect. A brilliant scholar and social worker, was the main initiator of the journal 'World of Art' (from 1898), and then the circle of artists of the same name. Being in a romantic opposition to modernity, inspired by antiquity, drawing scenes for his watercolors and gouaches mostly in the 18. During frequent trips to France created a great melancholy, grotesque watercolor series last walk of Louis XIV (1897-1898), confirmed him in glory 'singer Versailles'. Subtle poetic historicism and its images are marked in Russian history and literature (gouaches for the publication of Russian history in pictures, 1907-1910; illustrations of the Queen of Spades, 1899 and 1910, and the Bronze Horseman, 1903-1922, Pushkin). See. and BENOIT.

In 1894, Benoit made his first appearance as an art historian, wrote a chapter on Russian artists for the German edition of the History of Painting 19 century R. Mutter (1894). He was the author of History of Russian painting in the 19 century (1902), the Russian school of painting (in 10 editions, 1904-1906) and History of painting of all time (in 4 volumes, 1912-1917; publication pending). He founded and edited the magazine 'Art treasures of Russia' (1901-1903), . actively collaborated in the magazines 'years old', . 'Moscow weekly', . newspapers 'word' and 'speech' (especially his considerable artistic letter Cadet 'Speech', . 1908-1917),
. For the first time such a large scale justified as a historian of national identity and international relations of the Russian art of modern times, . Benoit as a critic and publicist expressed concern about the absence of the classical 'big style' modernity, . fought against the vandalism of the monuments of antiquity,
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Since 1907 he had worked as an artist scene, primarily for Fokine (Mariinsky Theater), as well as Sergei Diaghilev (in 1909-1911 was the artistic director of 'Russian Seasons'). In his staging (ballet N. Tcherepnin Le Pavillon d'Armide at the Mariinsky, 1907; Petrushka Stravinsky at the Paris Theater du Chatelet, 1911, and others) continued the tradition of 'beautiful theater', giving it unprecedented dramatic urgency. In 1913-1915 - chief artist of the Moscow Art Theater; made several productions together with Stanislavsky and V.I.Nemirovichem-Danchenko (the best of them are small tragedy of Pushkin, 1914-1915)

. After the February Revolution of 1917, first with the active involvement in the reform of the cultural life and work of the museum (in 1918 led the Picture Gallery of the Hermitage, issuing its own directory), are still served as artist books and drama, participated in exhibitions
. In 1926, not returning from a routine business trip to Paris. True to historical and romantic style of 'World of Art', . cooperated with theaters around the world, . including the Paris Opera (1927-1934) and the Milan theater 'La Scala' (1947-1956); as a critic continued his artistic writing in the newspaper 'Latest News' (1930-1936),
. Posted by My memories (1955), subtly recreating the atmosphere of Russian 'Silver Age'.

Benoit died in Paris on Feb. 9, 1960.