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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.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pastel on cardboard, 44 x 62 cm.
The Russian Museum, St-Petersburg.

In from of the Statue of Curtius. 1897. From the series "Last Promenades of Louis XIV".Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
The Russian Museum, St-Petersburg.

Feeding the Fish. From the series "Last Promenades of Louis XIV". 1897.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.
Private collection, St. Petersburg.

Fountains of Peterhoff. 1901.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper, 93x104.5 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Oranienbaum. 1901.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor and pencil on paper. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Palace in Pavlovsk. The Library. 1902.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
Private collection, St.Petersburg.

Anteroom of the Grand Palace at Pavlovsk. 1902.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pastel, charcoal on cardboard, 31x58.4 cm. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

The Summer Garden in the Time of Peter the Great. 1902.Alexandre Benois

Lithography, illuminated on watercolor. 
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

The Guards at Drill in Front of the Winter Palace. 1903.Alexandre Benois

Lithography, illuminated on watercolor. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Empress Elizabeth Strolling Along Petersburg Streets. 1903.Alexandre Benois

Lithography, illuminated on watercolor. 
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

Stairs at Sisterone by Cathedrale of St.Dominic. 1903.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Lake Primelle. Brittany. 1905.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor and ink on gray paper, 26.5x46.5 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.

In Finland.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.

View from Krestovsky Bridge. St.Petersburg.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Flooding of the River Oka.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Pond at Versailles.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, watercolor on paper mounted on cardboard.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Water Parterre in Versailles. Autumn. 1905.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pen and ink on paper mounted on cardboard,  50.7x53.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

The King's Walk. 1906.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pencil, pen and ink on cardboard, 48 x 62 cm.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Italian Comedy. Billet Doux. 1905.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pencil, pen and Indian ink on paper mounted on cardboard, 47.8x65.6 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Fantasy on the Theme of Versailles. 1906.Alexandre Benois

Pencil, pen and ink on paper mounted on cardboard, 49.6 x 67.7 cm. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Greenhouse. 1906.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on cardboard. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

The Bath of the Marquise. 1906.Alexandre Benois

Gouache, pen and ink on cardboard, 51x47.5 cm. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Italian Comedy. Immodest Polichinel. 1906.Alexandre Benois

Oil on paper mounted on canvas. 
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Castle. 1907.Alexandre Benois

Gouache and watercolor on paper, 23.3x31cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Parade in the Reign of Paul l. 1907.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper, 59.6 x 82 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

A Kiss. 1908.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on cardboard. 
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Venetian Garden. Versailles. 1910.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper mounted on cardboard, 48.4x63.7 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Peter l Strolling in the Summer Garden. 1910.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Montagnola. 1911.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor and blue pencil on paper, 31.3x48.2 cm. 
Private collection, St.Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Rose-Colored Cottage at Craissognot. 1912.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
Private collection, St.Petersburg.

Villa Kapnist at Sudak (Crimea). 1915.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper, 30.2x38.5 cm. 
Private collection, Moscow.

Venice. Bridge of Sighs. Not laterthan 1927.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on cardboard, 30.8x21.3 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page
Illustrations

"Alphabet in Pictures". 1904. Cover.Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Blind-man's Buffs. Beetles. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Forest. Moon. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Knights. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Sweets. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Theatre. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

Edition of "Dispatch Office of Purchase the State Papers", St.Petersburg.

Street. Hurricane. 1904. Illustration for "Alphabet in Pictures".Alexandre Benois

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. Alexandre Benoiss

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois
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).Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre 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 "Omphale" by Th.Gautier. Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg. S.Diagilev enterprise, Theatre Chatelet, Paris. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois.Alexandre 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.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, ink, pencil on paper. 
Private collection, Moscow.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Rinaldo. 1907. Costume sketch for the ballet "Armida's Pavilion", music by N.Cherepnin.Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on cardboard.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

A Hunter. 1910. Costume sketch for the ballet "Giselle" by A.Adan.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
Private collection, Moscow.

A Lady. 1910. Costume sketch for the ballet "Giselle" by A.Adan.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
Private collection, Moscow.

The Fair. 1911. Set design for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky,  burlesque in four scenes. >Music by I.Stravinsky, libretto by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.Alexandre Benois

Tempera on paper, 63x48.7 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

St.Petersburg Show-Booths. 1911. Set design for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky,  burlesque in four scenes. Music by I.Stravinsky, libretto by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, gouache, whitening on paper, 83.4x60 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

The Blackmoor's Room. 1911. Set design for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky,  burlesque in four scenes. Music by I.Stravinsky, libretto by I.Stravinsky and A.Benois, choreography by M.Fokin. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, gouache on paper, 63x48.7 cm.
Museum of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

A Street Dancer. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.

Conjuror. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil, silver paint on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.

A Goat with a Fiddle. 1911. Mummers costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Ballerina. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil, golden and silver paints on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.

The Princess's Grandson and Granddaughter. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.

The Moor. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil, golden and silver paints on paper.
Bolshoi Theatre Museum, Moscow.

The Bear. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Petrushka" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, pencil on paper. Private collection, Moscow.

Venetian Festival. 1912. Set design for ballet "Festivals". Music by C.Debussy (not staged).Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper.
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

The Emperor's Palace. The Throne Room. 1914. Set design for Act II, opera "Nightingale" by I.Stravinsky. Libretto by S.Mitusov based on fairy-tale by H.C.Andersen. Choreography by B.Romanov. Scenery and costumes by A.Benois. S.Diagilev enterprise, Paris.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

Chinese March. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera "Nightingale" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

The Courtier Carrying the Nightingale in the Chinese March. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera "Nightingale" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

The Leading Dancer in the Chinese Emperor's Procession. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera "Nightingale" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

A Fisherman. 1914. Costume sketch for the opera "Nightingale" by I.Stravinsky.Alexandre Benois

Watercolor on paper. 
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Set design for "Lady with Camellias". 1923. Play by Dumas the son (Theatre of Sarah Bernhard, Paris).Alexandre Benois

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.Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper.
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Market Place. 1924. Set design for "The Fan" by C.Goldoni.Alexandre Benois

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).Alexandre Benois

Gouache on paper, 29x39.5 cm.
Collection of N.&N.Lobanov-Rostovskys, London.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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 the 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 served as 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).

Paintings and Graphic Work        Illustrations        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page