BENOIS Albert Nikolaevich

March 14, 1852 (St. Petersburg) — May 16, 1936 (Fontenay-aux-Roses, near Paris)

Painter, graphic artist, architect

Benois was born to a family of artists; he was a son of the architect N. L. Benois, grandson of the architect A. K. Kavos, brother of the architect L. N. Benois and the painter A. N. Benois, the uncle of E. E. Lanceray and Z. E. Serebryakova. He studied painting at home. Benois finished K. I. May’s gymnasium. In 1871–1877 he studied at the faculty of architecture at the Imperial Academy of Arts (IAKh). At the same time he studied watercolor under L. O. Premazzi. In 1876 Benois was awarded large encouraging medal and small gold medal for the program Project of the University. In 1877 he graduated from the Academy with the title of an architect- artist of the 1st degree.

In 1875–1876, being a student, Benois designed the dacha of Ts. A. Kavos in Peterhof. In 1883 Alexander III invited Benois to accompany tsar’s family on a trip to Finnish skerries.

After graduating from the Imperial Academy of Arts (IAKh), Benois concentrated on watercolor painting and participated in academic exhibitions. In 1883 the direction of the IAKh filed a petition for the pensioner’s trip of Benois abroad in order to improve his watercolor technique. In 1883–1885 Benois visited Italy, France and Spain. In 1884 he was conferred title of academician for the watercolors The Town Balje, City of San Remo and others.

After returning to St. Petersburg, Benois was appointed teacher of watercolor in the IAKh. In 1894–1905 he was a member of the Council of the IAKh. In 1890s–1910s Benois travelled a lot, he painted landscapes of the Gulf of Finland, the Caucasus, the Volga region, North Africa, the Mediterranean, Siberia, Manchuria, China, Japan and Korea. He painted a series of views of St. Petersburg and its suburbs.

In 1880 Benois was one of the founders of the Circle of Russian Watercolorists (since 1887 — the Society of Russian Watercolorists); in 1887–1897 he was a member of the board of the Society; in 1897–1918 — honorary member of the Society. Personal exhibitions of the painter were held in St. Petersburg (1903, 1909, 1915) and in Kiev (1904, 1909).

Since 1895 Benois was a curator of the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III, where Benois did a lot for organizing funds and preparing them to exposition. Since 1897 Benois was an inspector of art section at the Department of trade and manufacturing.

In 1918 Benois was appointed head of the Museum of Applied Arts under the Commissariat of trade and industry. He participated in the creation of the Museum of the Neva Bay northern coast’s nature. In 1920 Benois was on the northern expedition of Petrograd geological institute, where he painted landscapes of the coasts of the Barents Sea and Novaya Zemlya. Benois took part in the First State Independent Art Exhibition (1919), exhibition of the House of Arts (1920), the 16th Art Exhibition of the Society of artists (1922), Exhibition of Petrograd painters of all schools (1923). His personal exhibitions were held in the House of Arts in Petrograd (1920–1921).

In 1924 Benois immigrated to Paris. Four personal exhibitions were held in the galleries Petit and Hirshman, but he did not obtain the recognition of the European art circles. Benois died in a boarding house for patients near Paris.

Albert Benois was a master of watercolor painting of the second half of the 19th — beginning of the 20th centuries. In his works Benois tried to follow academic traditions. For his works it is characteristic carefully executed pencil drawing, which forms the basis of compositions; attention to details; rich colors. He often covered the leaf surface with varnish in order to enhance expressiveness of works.

Works by Albert Benois are in many museum collections, including the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery and others.