Maurice Denis (1870–1943) — French artist, who worked in the directions of Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, one of the founders of the Nabi group. Denis was one of the most sought-after and respected painters of his time despite his rather unusual views. He believed that the pinnacle of creativity - all sorts of frescoes and paintings of walls and ceilings, not the usual paintings. Therefore, and specialized mainly on them, painted temples, public buildings, theaters and palaces.
Sacred Grove
In his artwork he skillfully combined classical techniques - complex multifigure compositions on the themes of biblical stories and myths, with a large number of allegories and elements of modern art nouveau - flattened image, bright colors, refusal of perspective. All his artworks are a personal view of the artist's work, and Denis himself was constantly in search of the right balance between decorativeness - after all, he painted public buildings and self-expression, the basis of which was the search for rhythmic compositions built according to their own laws.
April
The artists of Paris at that time painted ballerinas and nude priestesses of love, challenging social decorum, and Denis, as a young student at the Académie Julian, decided for himself: “I will glorify God in painting and become a Christian painter.” Perhaps this is because he was born into a very devout family and was mainly interested only in painting and religion - these were the two cornerstone pillars that determined his mindset and attitude to life. As a teenager, he loved going to church, fascinated by the rituals and the mysterious flickering of candles.
A religious mystery
However, Denis had little free time. He studied at the prestigious Lycée Condorcet, and then seriously interested in painting, easily entered the Academy of Fine Arts. But only to write plasters in the style of classicism, he was desperately bored. In search of something new, he began to study at the Julian Academy, and then managed to pass the exam for a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
Degas with a model.
The most important lesson Denis learned in his youth was that an artist should not engage in empty copying, painting is a reflection of his attitude to the object painted, whether it be a landscape or nude ladies, through form, rhythm and color. Denis, together with other young comrades, organizes the Nabi group, where the artists spend their time in a fun and peculiar way - walking in white ritual robes, studying ancient texts, symbolist poems, often quite frivolous, especially if you understand their slightly veiled meanings, and painting in an innovative manner.
Bacchus and Ariadne
And soon he met a pretty girl, Marthe Merrier, with whom he somehow immediately and indiscriminately fell in love. She played the piano perfectly, posed for his paintings many times, delighted everyone around with her beauty, positive attitude to life and commitment to Christian values. Denis realized - here she is a muse and ideal, he offered her to marry him, and the couple happily lived together for over 30 years. He often painted her portraits and multi-figure compositions, such as “Triple Portrait of Martha”, and she bore him seven children.
A triple portrait of Martha
Denis was also commissioned by the Russian philanthropist Ivan Morozov. He painted the concert hall with his panels for him, and to make them better perceived, he ordered to remove all the furniture from the room, leaving only very low banquettes. The audience complained about their inconvenience, but art requires sacrifice. Morozov generously paid off the artist, paying the sum for which Denis bought a villa on the Mediterranean coast.
The flying Cupid is struck by Psyche's beauty
But the main thing for Denis was artwork on frescoes in all kinds of temples and chapels. He painted many churches and all his life was most proud of these accomplishments. However, he was invited to paint the best public buildings in Paris, for example, the palace, built for the World's Fair.
Easter morning
Not all of Denis's paintings are dull and moralizing, however. He painted both frivolous beauties on the beach and many nudes, surprisingly combining Christian humility and modernist freedom in his work.
An evening on the beach
Denis was happy and in demand all his life, as if God himself had blessed the artist for his tireless work painting churches and his unwavering desire to bring Christian values to all people.
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