Who is Benoit 18th century. Literary and historical notes of a young technician. Biography of Alexander Benois

Self-portrait 1896 (paper, ink, pen)

Biography of Alexander Benois

Benoit Alexander Nikolaevich(1870-1960) graphic artist, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors modern image books Representative of Russian Art Nouveau.

A. N. Benois was born into a family famous architect and grew up in an atmosphere of reverence for art, however art education not received. He studied at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mainly watercolors). He did this so thoroughly that he was able to write a chapter on Russian art for the third volume of “The History of Painting in the 19th Century” by R. Muter, published in 1894.

They immediately started talking about him as a talented art critic who upended established ideas about the development of Russian art. In 1897, based on impressions from trips to France, he created his first serious work - a series of watercolors "The Last Walks of Louis XIV", showing himself in it to be an original artist.

Alexander Nikolaevich Benois (April 21 (May 3) 1870, St. Petersburg - February 9, 1960, Paris) - Russian artist, art historian, art critic, founder and chief ideologist association "World of Art".

Biography of Alexander Benois

Alexander Benois was born on April 21 (May 3), 1870 in St. Petersburg, in the family of Russian architect Nikolai Leontievich Benois and Camilla Albertovna Benois (née Kavos).

Graduated from the prestigious 2nd St. Petersburg Gymnasium. He studied for some time at the Academy of Arts, and also studied fine arts independently and under the guidance of his older brother Albert.

In 1894, he began his career as a theorist and art historian, writing a chapter on Russian artists for the German collection “History paintings of the 19th century century."

In 1896-1898 and 1905-1907 he worked in France.

Creativity of Benoit

Became one of the organizers and ideologists artistic association"World of Art", founded the magazine of the same name.

In 1916-1918, the artist created illustrations for A. S. Pushkin’s poem “The Bronze Horseman”. In 1918

Benois headed the Hermitage Picture Gallery and published its new catalogue. He continued to work as a book and theater artist, in particular, he worked on the design of BDT performances.

In 1925 he took part in International exhibition modern decorative and industrial arts in Paris.

In 1926, Benoit left the USSR without returning from foreign business trip. Lived in Paris, worked mainly on sketches of theatrical scenery and costumes.

Alexandre Benois played significant role in productions of S. Diaghilev’s ballet company “Ballets Russes”, as an artist and author - director of performances.

Benoit began his creative activity as a landscape painter and throughout his life he painted landscapes, mainly watercolors. They make up almost half of his legacy. Benoit's very turn to landscape was dictated by his interest in history. Two topics invariably attracted his attention: “Petersburg XVIII - early XIX V." and "France of Louis XIV".

The earliest of Benoit's retrospective works are associated with his work at Versailles. The series dates back to 1897-1898 small paintings, made in watercolor and gouache and combined common theme— “The Last Walks of Louis XIV.” This is a typical example of Benoit's work. historical reconstruction past artist, inspired by living impressions of the Versailles parks with their sculpture and architecture; but at the same time, it sums up the results of a scrupulous study of old French art, especially engravings of the 17th-18th centuries. The famous “Notes” of Duke Louis de Saint-Simon gave the artist the plot outline of “The Last Walks of Louis XIV” and, together with Other memoirs and literary sources, introduced Benoit into the atmosphere of the era.

One of his highest achievements was the scenery for I. F. Stravinsky’s ballet “Petrushka” (1911); This ballet was created based on the idea of ​​Benois himself and the libretto he wrote. Soon after, the artist’s collaboration with the Moscow Art Theater began, where he successfully designed two performances based on the plays of J.-B. Moliere (1913) and for some time even participated in the management of the theater along with K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.

Artist's works

• Cemetery
• Carnival on Fontanka
• Summer Garden under Peter the Great
• Rey embankment in Basel in the rain
• Oranienbaum. Japanese garden
• Versailles. Trianon Garden
• Versailles. Alley
• From the world of fantasy
• Parade under Paul 1

• Italian comedy. "Love Note"
• Bertha (costume design by V. Komissarzhevskaya)
• Evening
• Petrushka (costume design for Stravinsky's ballet "Petrushka")
• Herman in front of the countess’s windows (screen saver for Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades”)
• Illustration for Pushkin’s poem “The Bronze Horseman”
• From the series “The Last Walks of Louis 14th”
• Masquerade under Louis 14
• Marquise's bath
• Wedding walk
• Peterhof. Flower beds under the Grand Palace
• Peterhof. Lower fountain at the Cascade
• Peterhof. Grand Cascade
• Peterhof. Main fountain
• Pavilion

Benois Alexander Nikolaevich (1870-1960)

Alexander Nikolaevich Benois was born on April 21 (May 3), 1870 in St. Petersburg in the family of professor of architecture and architect of the highest court Nikolai Leontyevich Benois, who was the son of Louis-Jules Benois, a native of France. Alexander Nikolaevich’s maternal grandfather Albert Katarinovich Kavos, a Venetian by birth, was a builder Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Alexander Benois grew up in an atmosphere of exceptional artistry; he attended classes at the Academy of Arts, but considered himself an autodidact (self-taught). In his memoirs he wrote: “My interest in works of art, which naturally led me to “nobility”, began to manifest itself with very early years. They will say that born and raised in artistic family, I simply could not avoid such a “family infection” that I could not help but be interested in art - since there were so many people around me, starting with my father, who knew a lot about it and had artistic talents. However, environment is environment (it is not for me to deny its significance), but still, undoubtedly, there was something inherent in me that was not in others who were brought up in the same environment, and this forced me to absorb all sorts of things differently and with greater intensity. impression."

From 1885 to 1890, Alexander Nikolaevich studied at the “May Gymnasium” in St. Petersburg, in which he became close with D.V. Filosofov, K. Andreevich S. and V.F. Nouvel. In 1890 they were joined by S.P. Diaghilev, cousin Filosofova, musicologist A.P. Nurok and artist Lev Bakst. A few years later the circle was transformed into an editorial office art magazine“The World of Art” (1898 - 1904).

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

In 1893, Benoit became interested in copying ancient Dutch paintings in the Hermitage.

After graduating from the university in 1894, Alexander Benois married Anna Karlovna Kind.

In 1893, Benois established himself as a talented art critic by writing an art historical article on Russian art for the third volume of “Die Geschichte der Malerel im XIX Jahrhundert” (“The History of Painting XIX century”R. Mutera), published in 1894. This was followed by “History of Russian Painting” (1901 - 1902), “Russian School of Painting” (1904), “Russian Museum of the Emperor Alexandra III” (1906), “Tsarskoye Selo during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna” (1911), “Guide to the Hermitage Art Gallery” (1910), “History of painting of all times and peoples” (1912 - 1917, remained unfinished).

From 1895 to 1899, Benoit was the custodian of the collection donated by Prince. M.K. Tenisheva to the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

In 1897, having returned from France, he created a series of watercolors “The Last Walks of Louis XIV,” which brought him fame as an artist.

His name is associated with the emergence in 1898 of the “World of Art” association, of which he was one of the founders and ideological leader. Alexander Nikolaevich becomes, together with S. Diaghilev, the editor of the magazine “World of Art” and takes direct part in exhibitions of the society he created.

In 1900, he taught the history of styles for several months at the School of Baron Stieglitz.

Benois was both an artist and an art theorist; he wrote many books, dedicated to history painting and culture in general. In his first book, “The History of Russian Painting in the 19th Century” (1900 - 1902) and in articles of the early 1900s. The art critic criticized academic art, the aesthetics of N. G. Chernyshevsky and the civic nature of the painting of the Wanderers. Benoit considered the main criterion for evaluating works of art to be their “artistry”. He was a passionate propagandist classical heritage and the initiator of the creation of a number of art publications and museums. From 1901 - 1903 Alexander Benois wrote many articles on painting, architecture, music, theater, etc., published in the artistic and historical collection “Artistic Treasures of Russia”, which he founded in 1901. in the magazines “World of Art”, “Moscow Weekly”, “Old Years”, “Golden Fleece”. Since 1904 it has been published in the newspapers “Slovo”, “Rus” and “Rech”.

In 1911, his “Guide to the Hermitage Art Gallery” was published; from 1910 to 1917 - serial publication “History of painting of all times and peoples”.

The major works of A. Benois are “Russian School of Painting”, “Tsarskoe Selo” and “ General history painting”, which were published in 1904, 1910 and 1911. The last edition remained unfinished due to the changing living conditions as a result of the war and revolution.

Alexander Benois took close part in organizing the largest exhibitions: “Russian Portrait” in St. Petersburg in 1902 and 1905, “Russian Art” in Paris in 1906, historical architecture in St. Petersburg in 1911, “Old Years” in St. Petersburg in 1908, the large “Russian Exhibition” in Brussels in 1928, etc.

Alexander Benois presented his works at exhibitions of the Watercolor Society (since 1891), “World of Art” (since 1897), “ Modern Art” (1903), “Salon” by S. Makovsky, International in Rome (1911), “Russian Art” in Belgrade (1930) and Prague (1935), etc. Exhibitions, dedicated to creativity Alexandre Benois, took place in Paris in 1926 and in Como in 1955.

The artist’s first performance in the theater was the set for A. Taneyev’s opera “Cupid’s Revenge” at the Court Theater of the Hermitage in 1900.

From 1896 to 1899 and from 1905 to 1907, Benoit lived in Paris and Versailles (in the summer in Brittany and Normandy); from 1908 to 1913 - in the vicinity of Lugano. Summer 1900, 1901, 1902 devotes himself to studying the surrounding areas of St. Petersburg. Alexander Benois travels around France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, etc.

The work of Benoit the artist was mainly devoted to two themes: “France in the era of the Sun King” and “Petersburg in the 18th – early 19th centuries,” which Benoit was passionate about creating special kind historical painting, typical of the “World of Art”. He addressed these topics as in his historical paintings, as well as in landscape works made from life in St. Petersburg and surrounding palaces and in France, in Versailles, where he often visited for a long time (series “The Last Walks of Louis XIV”, 1897 - 98; “Versailles Series”, 1905 - 06) . The artist paid a lot of attention to these same topics in his theatrical and book works.

His first illustrated book was Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman,” which appeared in the “World of Art” in 1904 and was published again in 1923, distinguished by the graphic elegance of the illustrations, consonant with Pushkin’s lines.

In 1905, the artist published the book “The ABC in the Paintings of Alexandre Benois. In 1899, 1911 Benoit’s illustrations for “The Queen of Spades” were released. Since 1906, Alexandre Benois has been a full member of the Paris Autumn Salon.

Alexander Benois is a reformer of Russian theatrical and decorative painting. As a theater decorator and director, Alexandre Benois works for many theaters. His first production was R. Wagner’s opera “Twilight of the Gods” at the Mariinsky Theater in 1903. His first ballet (libretto, scenery and costumes) “Pavilion of Armida” by N.N. Tcherepnin, created in 1907, was given in Paris in 1909 ., in Rome in 1911

The artist’s passion for ballet led to the organization of a private ballet troupe S. Diaghilev’s “Russian Seasons”, which began its performances in Paris in 1909. Benois took the post of artistic director in the troupe and designed several performances in 1908, 1910, 1911, 1924. For I. Stravinsky’s ballet “Petrushka” (1911), Benois wrote the libretto, and his scenery for this performance became one of highest achievements artist.

In 1913 - 15 A. Benois, together with K. Stanislavsky and V. Nemirovich-Danchenko, led the Moscow Art Theater, was its manager artistic part and director (“Molière’s performance”, “Locandier"y” [“Hotelkeeper” (Italian).] Goldoni and “Pushkin’s performance”).

Since 1919, Benois was a director and artist Academic Theater opera and ballet (" Queen of Spades"P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1921) and the Bolshoi Drama Theater ("The Servant of Two Masters" by C. Goldoni, 1921) in Petrograd. The works of Benois the decorator are distinguished by a subtle sense of style, artistic integrity, and carefully thought-out sets and costumes.

From 1912 to 1917, Alexander Benois was vice-chairman of the “Society for the Protection of Monuments of Art”, and from 1918 - a member of the Collegium for Museum Affairs under the People's Commissariat; in 1918 - 1926 - head of the art gallery in State Hermitage, in which he carried out a complete and more rational regrouping of museum values; took a direct part in the reorganization and preservation of palaces and the Russian Museum.

In 1923, Benoit works in Alexandrinsky Theater, from 1919 to 1926 in the Bolshoi Drama Theater in Petrograd.

In 1926, the artist emigrated to France, to Paris, where he worked mainly on sketches of scenery and costumes for performances in theaters in France, Italy and other countries: he collaborated with the Grand Opera (1924, 1927, 1928 - 1934), with the French Comedy Theater, with the Colon Theater in Buenos Aires (1932) and with London's Covent Garden (1957). Alexander Benois created especially many opera and ballet productions for the Milan Scala Theater (from 1930 to 1956).

In 1934, Benoit wrote a book of memoirs, “My Memories.” In 1955 - “Alexandre Benois reflects...” (articles and letters 1917-1960).

The largest number of his works are in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg and in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

For his artistic merits awarded with orders Legion of Honor (cavalier in 1906, officer in 1916), officer's cross Corona d'Italia (1911) and the Order of St. Vladimir.

Artist's paintings

“The Gardens of Armida” for the ballet by N.N. Cherepnin

Variant of the frontispiece to A.S. Pushkin’s poem “The Bronze Horseman”.

Versailles. Alley.

Versailles. Louis XIV feeding the fish

(1870-1960) Russian artist, critic, art historian

Alexander Nikolaevich Benois came from a family that made a significant contribution to the history of Russian culture. Maternal grandfather A. Kavos was an academician, the author of the Bolshoi Theater project. His father was a famous architect, in particular, one of the authors of the Hermitage reconstruction project. The elder brother was the rector of the Academy of Arts.

WITH early childhood Alexander was interested in art. He studied at the private gymnasium of K. May, in his free time he copied drawings by old masters and studied painting techniques with his brother. The boy painted with watercolors no less willingly. His brother believed that he should have become a professional artist.

After graduating from high school, at the insistence of his father, Alexander entered the law faculty of St. Petersburg University. From that time on, his life was divided into two parts: at the university he studied law, and devoted all his free time to art.

During his university years, Alexander Benois became close to V. Nouvel, K. Somov, D. Filosofov. They formed a “Self-Education Circle”, on the basis of which the “World of Art” group was formed in the mid-nineties. Benoit becomes the soul of this association and its artistic director. Young enthusiasts publish their own magazine, come up with exhibition projects, Benois writes critical articles, analyzes the current artistic process.

During summer holidays, he traveled annually European countries, got acquainted with collections of works of art and architectural landmarks. From each trip he brought watercolor sketches.

Since 1891, the works of Alexander Nikolaevich Benois have been exhibited annually at art exhibitions. Fame came to him in 1893, when he published a chapter on the history of Russian art in the book “History of Painting” by the German researcher R. Meng. Later it will form the basis of his book “The History of Russian Painting.”

After graduating from university, Alexander Benois became the custodian of the collections of modern and Russian paintings, which were collected by Princess M. Tenisheva. With her money, he created one of the best collections in Russia, which later became part of the Russian Museum.

In 1896, Benois organized an exhibition of Russian painting in Germany. It began a wide acquaintance of the European audience with the work of contemporary Russian artists. Along with the exhibition, Alexander Benois travels to European cities and gives lectures. Then he visited Paris for the first time, from where he brought a series of watercolors and gouaches with views of Versailles, later published in the World of Art magazine.

Simultaneously with exhibition activities, Benois creates numerous scenery for the theater. The artist's debut took place in 1900 in the play "Cupid's Revenge", staged at the Hermitage Theater in St. Petersburg.

After the premiere, Alexander Benois was invited as an artist to the Mariinsky Theater, where he created sets for productions of world opera classics (operas by R. Wagner, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P. Tchaikovsky).

Since 1909, Benois has worked as artistic director of the Russian ballet seasons, which were conducted in Paris by S. Diaghilev. He prepares scenery for performances, organizes art exhibitions, writes the libretto for I. Stravinsky’s ballet “Petrushka”.

Thanks to the help of wealthy patrons of the arts - Prince S. Shcherbatov and entrepreneur W. von Meck - Benoit was able to implement an extensive program of publications under common name"Artistic treasures of Russia." He began a systematic scientific publication works of art stored in Russian museums. Each volume of the series was accompanied by a detailed commentary, which was of independent artistic value. In terms of the number of facts reported in it, even today it has almost no equal. But the independent position of Alexander Benois and the rigidity of his judgments led to the fact that after three years the publication of books ceased.

Work on catalogs of museum collections allowed Benoit to organize several art exhibitions. The most famous of them was the exposition of Russian portrait painting, created together with Sergei Diaghilev. Benoit first presented the story realistic portrait Russia from the beginning of the 18th to the end of the 19th century. When Russian estates were destroyed in the fire of revolutions and wars, the catalog compiled by Alexander Nikolaevich Benois became an indispensable reference for restorers and art historians.

After the outbreak of the First World War, the active publishing activity of Alexander Nikolaevich Benois began to decline: issues of “Artistic Treasures of Russia” stopped being published, then the magazine “World of Art” closed.

In 1917, Benois worked as head of the Hermitage art gallery. Thanks to his titanic efforts, it was possible to preserve many outstanding works art. In addition, he was able to convince the Bolshevik government to create a public museum in the Hermitage.

But soon the activities of Alexander Benois began to meet resistance from the authorities, and he was removed from the leadership of the Hermitage. For some time he worked on the board of the People's Commissariat for Education under the leadership of Anatoly Lunacharsky, and collaborated with the publishing house "World Literature".

But in 1926, after the authorities confiscated his collection of paintings, Benois left Russia. Formally, he went to Paris at the invitation of the management of the Grand Opera Theater. But in fact, he was leaving his homeland forever.

Alexander Nikolaevich Benois settled in Paris and became the leading set designer of the French opera. At the same time, he continues to collaborate with Diaghilev’s troupe, for which he designs performances in various European cities.

Alexander Benois combines theatrical activities with organizing art exhibitions. At the end of the twenties, he carried out a unique program of traveling exhibitions held in cities in Europe and the USA.

It was these exhibitions that opened for Western Europe Russian art as an aesthetic phenomenon. Benoit's work was highly praised. He becomes a Knight of the French Legion of Honor and the Order of the Crown of Italy. In parallel, Alexandre Benois continues to study painting and book illustration.

In 1930, he moved to Italy and began working as the chief artist of the La Scala theater. At that time, the production department of the theater was headed by Benois’s son, Nikolai.

During World War II, the artist returns to Paris. Since most theaters are ceasing production activities, he is engaged in illustrating works of Russian classics, releasing several albums of watercolors with views of St. Petersburg and its suburbs.

Since 1939, Alexander Nikolaevich Benois began working on a book of memoirs. Personal memories soon develop into a vast panorama of the history of artistic life in Russia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.

After the war, he resumed work in the theater, continued to design performances at La Scala, traveled to the USA with a troupe organized by entrepreneur S. Hurok, and designed performances in theaters in Buenos Aires and in Covent Garden (London).

Benoit spent the last years of his life in Italy; his personal exhibitions were held almost every year in museums in Rome and Milan.

In 1958, the first part of his memoirs in five books was published. However, the onset of illness prevented him from completing his fundamental work.

The family life of Alexander Nikolaevich Benois was happy. In 1893, he married the daughter of a German businessman A. Kind, and three children were born in the marriage. His only son, Nikolai Benois, became a famous decorative artist.

Self-portrait. 1896 (paper, ink, pen)

Benois Alexander Nikolaevich

Marquise's bath. 1906

Carnival on Fontanka.

Italian comedy. “Love Note”. 1907.

Summer Garden under Peter the Great. 1902

Pavilion. 1906

Oranienbaum. Japanese hall 1901

Rey embankment in Basel in the rain. 1902

Masquerade under Louis 14. 1898

Parade under Paul I. 1907

Wedding walk. 1906

Paris. Carrousel. 1927

Peterhof. Flower beds under the Grand Palace. 1918

Peterhof. Lower fountain at the Cascade. 1942

Peterhof. Main fountain. 1942

Peterhof. Big cascade. 1901-17

Biography of Alexander Benois.

Benois Alexander Nikolaevich(1870-1960) graphic artist, painter, theater artist, publisher, writer, one of the authors of the modern image of the book. Representative of Russian Art Nouveau.

A. N. Benois was born into the family of a famous architect and grew up in an atmosphere of reverence for art, but did not receive an art education. He studied at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University (1890-94), but at the same time independently studied the history of art and was engaged in drawing and painting (mainly watercolors). He did this so thoroughly that he was able to write a chapter on Russian art for the third volume of “The History of Painting in the 19th Century” by R. Muter, published in 1894.

They immediately started talking about him as a talented art critic who upended established ideas about the development of Russian art. In 1897, based on impressions from trips to France, he created his first serious work - a series of watercolors "The Last Walks of Louis XIV", showing himself in it to be an original artist.

Repeated trips to Italy and France and copying artistic treasures there, studying the works of Saint-Simon, Western literature of the 17th-19th centuries, interest in ancient engravings were the foundation of his artistic education. In 1893, Benois acted as a landscape painter, creating watercolors of the environs of St. Petersburg. In 1897-1898, he painted a series of landscape paintings of the Versailles parks in watercolors and gouache, recreating in them the spirit and atmosphere of antiquity.

Towards the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Benoit again returned to the landscapes of Peterhof, Oranienbaum, and Pavlovsk. It glorifies the beauty and grandeur of 18th century architecture. The artist is interested in nature mainly in its connection with history. Possessing a pedagogical gift and erudition, he late XIX V. organized the World of Art association, becoming its theoretician and inspirer. He worked a lot in book graphics. He often appeared in print and published his “Artistic Letters” (1908-16) every week in the newspaper “Rech”.

He worked no less fruitfully as an art historian: he published the widely known book “Russian Painting in the 19th Century” in two editions (1901, 1902), significantly revising his early essay for it; began publishing serial publications "Russian School of Painting" and "History of Painting of All Times and Peoples" (1910-17; publication was interrupted with the beginning of the revolution) and the magazine "Artistic Treasures of Russia"; created the wonderful “Guide to the Hermitage Art Gallery” (1911).

After the revolution of 1917, Benoit took an active part in the work of various organizations, mainly related to the protection of monuments of art and antiquities, and from 1918 he also took up museum work - he became the head of the Hermitage Picture Gallery. He developed and successfully implemented completely new plan the general exhibition of the museum, which contributed to the most expressive demonstration of each work.

At the beginning of the 20th century. Benois illustrates the works of Pushkin A.S. Acts as a critic and art historian. In the 1910s, people became the center of the artist’s interests. This is his painting “Peter I on a walk in Summer Garden", where the appearance of past life, seen through the eyes of a contemporary.

History decisively predominated in the work of Benoit the artist. Two topics invariably attracted his attention: “Petersburg XVIII - early XIX centuries.” and "France of Louis XIV". He addressed them primarily in his historical compositions - in two “Versailles series” (1897, 1905-06), in widely famous paintings“Parade under Paul I” (1907), “Catherine II’s entrance in the Tsarskoye Selo Palace” (1907), etc., reproducing a long-gone life with deep knowledge and a subtle sense of style. His numerous natural landscapes, which he usually executed either in St. Petersburg and its suburbs, or in Versailles (Benoit regularly traveled to France and lived there for a long time), were essentially devoted to the same themes. Into Russian history book graphics the artist entered with his book “The ABC in the Paintings of Alexandre Benois” (1905) and illustrations for “The Queen of Spades” by A. S. Pushkin, executed in two versions (1899, 1910), as well as wonderful illustrations To " To the Bronze Horseman", to three versions of which he devoted almost twenty years of work (1903-22).

During these same years, he took part in the design of the “Russian Seasons”, organized by S.P. Diaghilev. in Paris, which included in their program not only opera and ballet performances, but also symphony concerts.

Benois designed R. Wagner's opera "Twilight of the Gods" on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater and then performed scenery sketches for N. N. Tcherepnin's ballet "Armida's Pavilion" (1903), the libretto of which he composed himself. The passion for ballet turned out to be so strong that on Benoit’s initiative and with his direct participation, a private ballet troupe was organized, which began triumphant performances in Paris in 1909 - “Russian Seasons”. Benois, who took over the post of artistic director in the troupe, performed the designs for several performances.

One of his highest achievements was the scenery for I. F. Stravinsky's ballet "Petrushka" (1911). Soon Benois began collaborating with the Moscow Art Theater, where he successfully designed two performances based on the plays of J.-B. Moliere (1913) and for some time even participated in the management of the theater along with K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.

From 1926 he lived in Paris, where he died. The artist's main works: "The King's Walk" (1906), "Fantasy on the Versailles Theme" (1906), "Italian Comedy" (1906), illustrations for the Bronze Horseman by A.S. Pushkin. (1903) and others

(to see the description of the book, click on the picture)