January 20, died in Paris Dina Verni - Russian Frenchwoman whose name is inseparable from the history of Russian and world art of XX century

Jan. 20 in Paris, died on Dina Verny, not less famous muse of famous French painter and sculptor Aristide Mayol. This was on Wednesday advised the museum Mayol, founder of which is true. Russian girlfriend of famous European artists of long ago entered the art history of XX century. About Dina Verny known, perhaps, least of all. To blame - its modesty. His life, she has devoted her friend's art opening in 1995, his museum.

Born in Soviet Russia, Dina at the age of 7 falls in Paris in 1925. And in 15 years, she becomes acquainted with the 73-year-old Maiolo.

According to contemporaries, her friends presented the artist, finding similarities in the young girl with the best of his creations. According to some art critics, Mayol in that time experienced a crisis of creativity. Young, Dina was able to re-inspire Aristide Mayol and became a model for many years. Mayol has created over 40 sculptures depicting her as well as portraits. Roman more than 70-year-old sculptor and a young model lasted until his death in 1944.

Verny posed, and other artists: Matisse, Bonnard, and Raul Dyufi. She was popular among French and Surrealism, was close to their leader Andre Breton.

At the beginning of World War II, along with Dina Verny Maiolo Aristide fled to the south of France. Stay in Paris for a young music, it was extremely dangerous because it threatened deportation: Dina's father, emigrated from Odessa, was a Jew. In the first years of occupation, Dina has been involved in the resistance movement, helping to running anti-fascists from the occupied territories to move to Spain.

But, once at the beginning of 1944 the Nazis occupied the territory, and Vishy, the threat of deportation for Dina increased. However, as some sources of stress, Maiolo Aristide managed to defend its protege.

The official biography Verni did not say the arrests. However, as written, some researchers, it has repeatedly been arrested on the French police and the Gestapo. There are rumors that Maiolo has achieved its liberation from the torture-chambers, due to familiarity with the official Third Reich sculptor Arno breaker. They say, for that introduction Mayol was killed by supporters of the Resistance, but not killed in a car.

After the death of Mayol in September 1944, Dina Verni decided to dedicate his life to his memory.

After the war, on the advice of Henri Matisse, Dina Verny, opened an art gallery in the old quarter of Paris Saint-Germain-de-EAR, which was contemporary artists. It soon became a popular gallery. In the 1960's, Dina Verny, visited Moscow and Leningrad. She first showed Europe was still no well-known Russian avant-garde. The gallery Verny frequently exhibited artists that are prohibited to be shown at exhibitions in the USSR. A number of them, in particular Ilya Ilya Kabakov , Erik Bulatov , Yankilevsky , became known in the West precisely because of Verny.

Lovers of Russian chanson album блатных very familiar songs performed by Dina Verni. What aroused the interest of Dina Verny блатным songs? She met with them during their first visits to Russia. At this time - after Stalin's death - from the camps began to return political prisoners. They brought a camp song that pelis in the kitchen with a guitar. Dina Verny heard them talking with the Russian avant-garde artists, and dissidents. Because of the inability to remove the lyrics and recording songs from the USSR, Dina Verny learned them by heart. Thus, in the early 1970's and has a unique album, which is then repeatedly reprinted.

During all these years kept the work of Dina Verny Aristide Mayol in her rented premises, as well as his work for many years did not enjoy popularity.

In 1963, Dina Verny donated the state of France, all monumental works Mayol. And in 1964 the female figure of the Mayol was installed in front of the main temple of the arts of France - in the garden of the Tuileries. Recognition of the sculptor Dina Verny help a museum Mayol. It has lasted almost 30 years. In 1995 the museum opened in all the same quarter of Saint-Germain-de-EAR. In addition to the permanent exhibition, there are frequent exhibitions of contemporary artists.

Source: rfi.fr