Artist Gustave Moreau: biography, creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

What do we know about 19th century artists? Big names are heard by everyone, but there are those who remained unknown to the world. Each of them made a contribution to art with their canvases. The artist Gustave Moreau was one of the great painters, he rightfully takes his place there.

Youth

French symbolist born in Paris in the 19th century. He immediately understood who he wanted to be, and therefore he studied at the school of fine arts for a long time. Already from his youth, the orientation in his works was manifested: biblical. He created paintings on mysterious themes, so his work is still fascinating and carries something secret and mystical.

After school, Gustave Moreau decides to enter the academy. Thanks to his father, he was able to stay at the Louvre when he needed to and work there, inspired by the masterpieces of world geniuses. In 1848 Moreau participated in the Grand Prix competition. Both attempts were unsuccessful, and the painter left the academy.

To be inspired, the great artists of the 19th century loved to travel in search of a muse. Moreau went to Italy twice. At this time, he was able to get into all the most beautiful cornersof this country: Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples. In addition to the extraordinary architecture of the time, here he studied the Renaissance and the famous authors of the time.

Working with the government

Besides the fact that Gustave Moreau, whose paintings were already a success, worked on his masterpieces, he carried out the order of the state. His task was to create a huge copy of Carracci's painting. Everyone liked the creation, and they made another order for a copy of the painting, but Moreau refused, saying that he wanted his works to be bought, and not copies of his colleagues. After such a statement, Gustave was ordered to create his own canvas.

A new stage of creativity

A new stage began with the purchase of housing. The father loved his son very much, so in 1852 he bought him a chic house. From the windows one could see the Gare Saint-Lazare, nearby the river Seine roared. Moro immediately decided to create a personal creative place on one of the floors and get to work. A chic mansion helped and inspired him. Gustave lived in excellent conditions, fulfilling the orders of the state. He gradually became well received in the circles of famous artists.

During this period, he learned about the pregnancy of his girlfriend, who lived in Rome. The painter decided to leave the unfortunate. His mother agreed with this decision, she believed that both the wedding and the small child would destroy the career of the future great painter. This journey through Italy dragged on for several years. Gustave's parents also came here, deciding to accompany the artist on his trips. In Italy, he was inspired by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Crivelli and others.great artists. Therefore, he brought home sketches and finished canvases, saturated with Italian flavor.

Sudden love and dizzying success

After returning to the capital of France, Moreau starts working in his mansion, sometimes visiting friends. On one of these evenings he spoke to the governess, Alexandrine Dureau. A sudden light love develops into an incredible passion, but lovers hide their feelings.

The death of his father in 1862 touched the artist, and in his grief he decided to devote himself to art and education. Moreau's creations are in demand, and he is becoming popular both in Paris and far beyond. In the late 60s, Gustave became the head of the jury of the same Grand Prix, in which he was defeated twice in his youth. In the mid-70s, the painter received France's highest award - the Order of the Legion of Honor.

The sunset of creativity

In 1884, Gustave lost his mother. This tragic event did not allow him to calmly create, and for six months he could not work fruitfully. Age also made itself felt. Gustave increasingly leaves Paris, travels to other countries, accompanied by his beloved Alexandrine. Already in 1888 he became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts, and after 3 years he became a professor at the Paris School of Art.

In the early 1890s, Alexandrine dies, five years later Gustave finishes his gigantic work "Jupiter and Semele" and decides to organize a museum in his house. The artist died in 1898, was buried in the Montmartre cemetery, his beloved is resting somewhere nearby. Alexandrine Dureau.

Museum

Before his death, Gustave Moreau, whose biography is rich and bright, left his works and property as a legacy to the city. The painter managed to keep a collection of his canvases and sketches, also collected works of great artists, sculptors, rare furniture and other items of the 19th century.

The Gustave Moreau House Museum has now become an extremely popular place in Paris. Although the painter failed to translate his ideas into reality, the Paris City Hall took care of his legacy. The city created an extraordinary house-museum, which now houses the most complete collection of paintings by the French artist.

This "painter's paradise" occupied two floors. On the first - all the walls are hung with the works of Moreau. To help future connoisseurs of art, Gustave made descriptions of the paintings; in the museum, these notes were also translated into English. In addition, among the finished works on easels are those that the artist left unfinished.

The second floor is filled with a collection of paintings by other artists, as well as sculptures, antique furniture - everything that Gustave Moreau could collect on his own. At the moment, a pass to the house-museum costs 6 euros for adults, and children under 18 years of age are admitted free.

Paintings

Among the paintings that the painter left behind, there are known to everyone. One of them is "Jupiter and Semele", written two years before the death of the artist. The canvas depicts allegorical figures that carry a certain meaning: Death, Suffering, Night, etc.

The whole space is filled with unusual plants, fantastic architectural solutions and sculptural sculptures. It is also very important that the artist comments on all this abundance of images and fantasies, since it is difficult for the viewer to independently identify all the characters. The very same legend of Semele on the canvas acquires a certain mysticism and mystery.

Analyzing the art of Gustave, it becomes clear his desire for "necessary splendor". The painter argued that we should pay attention to the masters of the past, who will not teach us poor art. The artists of the past tried to display on their canvases only the richest, rarest and most magnificent that was in their time. The outfits that they depicted in their works, jewelry, objects - all this was adopted by Moreau.

Another popular painting by Gustave is The Apparition, which he created in 1876. Like many others, it contains a religious story, in this case, the gospel story. The canvas refers to Salome, who dances in front of Herod, behind the head of John the Baptist. At this time, the head of John appears in front of Salome, creating a magnificent dazzling radiance.