Benois Alexander Nikolayevich (21.04 (03.05) .1870 – 09.02.1960), Russian artist, art historian, art critic. The son of an architect NL Benois. Art studied independently. He lived in St. Petersburg. In 1896-98 and 1905-07 was working in France. One of the organizers and the ideological head of the World of Art, and the journal of the same name. In his book "History of Russian Art in the 19 century" (1-2 pm, St. Petersburg, 1901-02) and articles from the early 1900's. Benoit criticized the academic art, but also made from an idealist position against the aesthetics Chernyshevsky and civic art Wanderers, putting forward the main criterion for evaluating works of art of their "artistry. From some polemically sharp estimates Benoit subsequently refused. A passionate advocate of the classical heritage, including Russian art 18 – 1 st quarter of the 19 cc., Benoit was the initiator of a series of art history books and museums (collections of "Artistic Treasures of Russia", ed. In 1901-03, the magazine "Old Years ; Museum of old St. Petersburg, etc.). In pre-revolutionary years opposed the extreme formalist directions. In 1917 Benoit took active part in organizing the protection of monuments of art and the restructuring of museums (particularly the reorganization of the Hermitage, the head of the art gallery of which he was in 1918-26). The feeling of the crisis of bourgeois society and the inevitability of revolutionary upheavals in the search results Benoit "eternal", "sustainable" spiritual and aesthetic ideals as the antithesis of contradictions today. Combined with the enthusiasm the art of France 17-18 centuries. and Russia 18 – 1 st quarter of 19 centuries. it gives his work a retrospective orientation. Benoit – the creator of a special kind of historical painting, typical of the "World of Art", ie, the veracity of characteristic detail, but a unilateral poetic reflection of the area of history that in every period up her life and art. Benoit attract fragile beauty and the grotesque quaintness parting decline of aristocratic culture series ("The Last walk of Louis XIV", 1897-98; "Versailles series, 1905-03). The sad irony pervades his paintings, in which the decorous procession or bustle of human figures compared with the timeless and majestic beauty of the perfect works of art. The scrolls of the ancient ornaments, in the gestures and posture of the last people seen Benoit tangible expression of the spirit and poetry of the past epoch. But creativity is not confined to Benoit subtle styling it is associated with the overall development of painting of its time. Benoit is one of the reformers Russian scenery painting in the late 20. (Opera "Götterdämmerung Wagner, 1903, and the ballet Armida's Pavilion N. Tcherepnin, 1907, Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg). Since 1908 designed the entreprise performances of Sergei Diaghilev in Paris (ballet "Petrouchka" Igor Stravinsky, 1911, Theatre du Chatelet), and until 1911 was its artistic director. In 1913-15 the head of the art department and director of the Moscow Art Theatre ("Moliere play", 1913, sorezhissery Stanislavsky and VI Nemirovich-Danchenko). Since 1919 the director and painter of the Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Theatre ("The Queen of Spades" by Tchaikovsky, 1921) and the Bolshoi Drama Theater ("Servant of Two Masters" C. Goldoni, 1921) in Petrograd. Works for theater Benoit different artistic integrity, careful well thought out decorations, costumes and props, a good sense of style. Convincing marked graphic illustrations grace Benoit, including illustrations for "Copper Horseman" by A. Pushkin (one of the options issued in 1923), are consistent with a lyricism, the dramatic pathos of Pushkin's verse. Since 1926, Benoit was living in Paris, working mainly on the sketches of scenery and costumes for productions at theaters in France, Italy and other countries. Cit.: Russian School of Painting, UPB, 1904; Feature writing, newspaper, speech, November 1908 – February 1917, Tsarskoe Selo in the reign of Empress Elizabeth, St. Petersburg, 1910, History of painting of all time, ie 1-4, St. Petersburg, 1912-17 (not completed); emergence of the World of Art, LA, 1928; artist's life. Memoirs, v. 1 – 2, Nõo York, 1955; Alexander Beiua ponders … Mr. articles and letters 1917 – 1960 years., M., 1968; Memoirs, v. 1 – 2, L., 1960 – 64. Lit.: Ernest S., A. Benoit, P., 1921; M. Etkind, Alexander Benois, L. – M., 1965.
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