BENOIS (Ustinova) Nadezhda Leontievna

May 17, 1895 (St. Petersburg) — February 8, 1975 (Gloucestershire, England)

Painter, graphic artist, scene-designer

Nadezhda Benois was born to family of artists: she was daughter of academician of architecture L. N. Benois, niece of artists A. N. and Alb. Benois.

In 1914–1915 Benois studied at the New Art Studio under the guidance of A. E. Yakovlev and V. I. Shukhaev, in 1917–1919 — under Shukhaev at Petrograd State Free Art Studios.

In 1920 she married English diplomat, Russian by origin I. Ustinov; she moved to England. Benois painted landscapes of England, Ireland, North Wales, France, and Italy in impressionist manner.

Benois participated in many group exhibitions in London, Paris, the USA, Canada and Australia. She held personal exhibitions at the galleries Adelphi (1924) and Arthur Tooth (1929, 1932, and 1936).

Benois was engaged not only in easel painting and graphic art, but also in scene-design (Sleeping Beauty by P. Tchaikovsky, 1939). She proved herself to be an excellent book illustrator. Her son, Peter Ustinov was a famous actor, director, dramatist and novelist.

Retrospective exhibition of the artist was held in 1975 at the M. Parkin gallery.

Works by Nadezhda Benois are in many museum and private collections, including the Tate Gallery in London, the Museum of the Benois family in St. Petersburg and others.