Alexandre Nikolaevich BENOIS
Born 1870, St. Petersburg - Died 1960, Paris
Painter, graphic artist,theatre designer, art historian and critic.
Paintings and Graphic Work Illustrations Theatre Biography
Paintings and Graphic Work
The King's Stroll. 1896.
Gouache, pastel on cardboard, 44 x 62 cm.
The Russian Museum, St-Petersburg.
In from of the Statue of Curtius. 1897.
From the "Last Promenades of Louis XIV" series.
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St-Petersburg.
Feeding the Fish. From the series Last Walks of Louis XIV. 1897.
Watercolor, gouache and pastel on paper. 47.8 x 62.5 cm.
The Russian Museum, St-Petersburg.
Peterhoff. Building Surmounted by a Coat of Arms. 1900.
Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, St. Petersburg.
Fountains of Peterhoff. 1901.
Gouache on paper, 93x104.5 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.
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Oranienbaum. 1901.
Watercolor and pencil on paper.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Palace in Pavlovsk. The
Library. 1902.
Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, St.Petersburg.
Anteroom of the Grand Palace at Pavlovsk. 1902.
Gouache, pastel, charcoal on cardboard, 31x58.4 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
The Summer Garden in the Time of Peter the Great. 1902.
Lithography, illuminated on watercolor.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
The Guards at Drill in Front of the Winter Palace. 1903.
Lithography, illuminated on watercolor.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
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Empress Elizabeth Strolling Along Petersburg Streets. 1903.
Lithography, illuminated on watercolor.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Stairs at Sisterone by Cathedrale of St.Dominic. 1903.
Watercolor on paper.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Lake Primelle. Brittany. 1905.
Watercolor and ink on gray paper, 26.5x46.5 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.
In Finland.
Watercolor on paper.
View from Krestovsky Bridge. St.Petersburg.
Watercolor on paper.
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Flooding of the River Oka.
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
Pond at Versailles.
Gouache, watercolor on paper mounted on cardboard.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Water Parterre in Versailles. Autumn. 1905.
Gouache, watercolor, pen and ink on paper mounted on cardboard, 47.8 x 65.6 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Chinese Pavilion. Jealous Man. 1906.
Gouache, pen and ink on paper mounted on cardboard, 50.7x53.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
The King's Walk. 1906
Gouache, pencil, pen and ink on cardboard, 48 x 62 cm.
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Fantasy on the Theme of Versailles. 1906.
Pencil, pen and ink on paper mounted on cardboard, 49.6 x 67.7 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Greenhouse. 1906.
Gouache on cardboard.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
The Bath of the Marquise. 1906.
Gouache, pen and ink on cardboard, 51x47.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Italian Comedy. Immodest Polichinel. 1906.
Oil on paper mounted on canvas.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
Castle. 1907.
Gouache and watercolor on paper, 23.3x31cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.
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Parade in
the Reign of Paul l. 1907.
Gouache on paper, 59.6 x 82 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
A Kiss. 1908.
Gouache on cardboard.
The Tretyakov Gallery,
Moscow.
Venetian Garden. Versailles. 1910.
Watercolor on paper mounted on cardboard, 48.4x63.7 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
Peter l Strolling in the Summer Garden. 1910.
Gouache on paper. The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.
Montagnola. 1911.
Watercolor and blue pencil on paper, 31.3x48.2 cm.
Private collection, St.Petersburg.
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Rose-Colored Cottage at Craissognot. 1912.
Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, St.Petersburg.
Villa Kapnist at Sudak (Crimea). 1915.
Watercolor on paper, 30.2x38.5 cm.
Private collection, Moscow.
Venice. Bridge of Sighs. Not laterthan 1927.
Watercolor on cardboard, 30.8x21.3 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.
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Illustrations
"Alphabet in Pictures". 1904. Cover.
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
Blind-man's Buffs. Beetles. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
Forest. Moon. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
Knights. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
Sweets. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
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Theatre. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
Street. Hurricane. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".
Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Cover for poem by A.S.Pushkin. Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg (not executed). Printed later in the edition A.S.Pushkin, Collected works, v 3, St.Petersburg, 1909.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz
(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Frontispiece for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
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"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz (Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz (Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz (Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
Paintings and Graphic Work Illustrations Theatre Biography Top of Page
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz
(Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz (Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
"The Bronze Horseman". 1905. Illustration for poem by A.S.Pushkin.
Pen, Indian ink, illuminated with watercolor on paper.
Petrodvoretz (Peterhoff) Museum, near St.Petersburg.
Paintings and Graphic Work Illustrations Theatre Biography Top of Page
Theatre
Set design for "Cupid's Revenge". 1900. Opera by S.Taneyev (Theatre Hermitage, St.Petersburg).
Watercolor and charcoal on paper, 32.7x47.6 cm.
Private collection, St.Petersburg.
Armida's Garden. 1907. Set design for for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion". Music by N.Cherepnin, choreography by M.Fokin, libretto A.Benois after novel by Th.Gautier
"Omphale". Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg. S.Diagilev enterprise, Theatre Chatelet, Paris. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois.
Watercolor , Indian ink, pencil on paper, 47.5x63.2 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.
Scene of the dream. 1907. Set design for for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion". Music by N.Cherepnin, choreography by M.Fokin, libretto A.Benois after novel by Th.Gautier
"Omphale". Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg. S.Diagilev enterprise, Theatre Chatelet, Paris. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois.
Watercolor , Indian ink, pencil on paper, 47.5x63.2 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.
Marquis Fierbois. 1907. Costume sketch for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion" by N.Cherepnin.
Watercolor, Indian ink, silver paint on paper, 37.5x37.5 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.
The Red Magician. 1907. Costume sketch for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion" by N.Cherepnin.
Watercolor, ink, pencil on paper.
Private collection, Moscow.
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Rinaldo. 1907. Costume sketch for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion", music by N.Cherepnin.
Watercolor, pencil on cardboard.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Set design for ballet "Giselle". 1910. Music by A.Adan.
Libretto V. de Sen-Jeorge, Th.Gautier and J.Corally. Choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris 1911).
Gouache on cardboard.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
A Hunter. 1910. Costume sketch for the ballet by A.Adan "Giselle".
Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, Moscow.
A Lady. 1910. Costume sketch for the ballet by A.Adan "Giselle".
Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, Moscow.
The Fair. 1911. Set design for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka", burlesque in four scenes. Music by I.Stravinsky, plot by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.
Tempera on paper, 63x48.7 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
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St.Petersburg Show-Booths. 1911. Set design for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka", burlesque in four scenes. Music by I.Stravinsky, plot by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.
Watercolor, gouache, whitening on paper, 83.4x60 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
The Blackmoor's Room. 1911. Set design for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka", burlesque in four scenes. Music by I.Stravinsky, plot by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.
Watercolor, gouache on paper, 63x48.7 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi
Theatre, Moscow.
A Street Dancer. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor on paper.
Conjuror. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil, silver paint on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.
A Goat with a Fiddle. 1911. Mummers costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.
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Ballerina. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil, golden and silver paints on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.
The Princess's Grandson and Granddaughter. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.
The Moor. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil, golden and silver paints on
paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.
The Bear. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet by I.Stravinsky "Petrushka".
Watercolor, pencil on paper. Private collection, Moscow.
Venetian Festival. 1912. Set design for ballet "Festivals". Music by C.Debussy (unstaged).
Gouache on paper.
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
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The Emperor's Palace. The Throne Room. 1914. Set design for Act II, opera by I.Stravinsky "Nightingale". Libretto by S.Mitusov based on H.C.Andersen's fairy-tale. Choreography by B.Romanov. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.
Watercolor, gouache on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Chinese March. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera by I.Stravinsky "Nightingale".
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
The Courtier Carrying the Nightingale in the Chinese March. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera by I.Stravinsky "Nightingale".
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
The Leading Dancer in the Chinese Emperor's Procession. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera by I.Stravinsky "Nightingale".
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
A Fisherman. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera by I.Stravinsky "Nightingale".
Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
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Set design for "Lady with Camellias". 1923.
Play by Dumas the son (Theatre of Sarah Bernhard, Paris).
Gouache on paper, 41x57 cm.
Collection of N.& N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.
Set design for "A Feast at the Time of the Plague " 1923. Play by A.S.Pushkin.
Gouache on paper.
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Market Place. 1924. Set design for "The Fan" by C.Goldoni.
Watercolor on paper.
Central Theatrical Museum, Moscow.
Market Place. 1924. Set design for "Le Médecin malgré lui", the comic opera in three acts and ballet. Music by Ch.Gounod, choreography by B.Nizhinskaya, staging, scenery and costumes by A.Benois. S.Diagilev enterprise (Monte-Carlo Theatre).
Gouache on paper, 29x39.5 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.
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Biography:
Benois was an occasional student at the Academy of Arts, St Petersburg (1887-1888). He has studied at the Law Faculty of the University of St Petersburg (1890-1904). Was one of organizers of the World of Art group. From 1891 he participated in exhibitions including Society of Russian Watercolorists, World of Art (SRKh). Frequently traveled in France, Germany and Italy (1890-1910).
The artist has produced a series of landscapes of Versailles, views of St Petersburg and its environs. He illustrated Pushkin's Queen of Spades and The Bronze Horseman. Was the editor of journal "Mir Iskusstva" (World of Art) (1901-1903). His work was also exhibited as part of the art group bearing the same name.
Benois designed ballet, opera and theatre productions in St Petersburg, Moscow (1901-1903), and for Dyagilev's private company.
He was curator of Hermitage Museum and member of Commission for Preservation of Antiquities and Monuments of Art (1918-1922. Author of numerous works on art history and critic articles.
From 1926 the artist lived in Paris, and worked for Comedie Francaise, Paris, and La Scala, Milan.
The artist held several exhibitions abroad including Paris (1926, 1929, 1940, 1953), London (1936, 1938, 1953, 1960), Milan (1988).
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