Why the French artist Moreau painted androgynous angels and why he did not want to sell his paintings

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Gustave Moreau is a French Symbolist painter known for his works with mythological and religious subjects. Hearing the name of this master today, his mystical and mysterious images in luxurious outfits probably come to mind. Moreau's paintings were ready to acquire influential lords and museums, but he did not want to sell his work. What are the most interesting facts hidden in the biography of Gustave Moreau?

1. Eclectic artist

Working in an academic, romantic and Italian style, Gustave Moreau may well be called an eclectic artist. In his works, you can find a prototype of the ephebe from the works of Micellangelo, and the bluish background and chiaroscuro of Leonardo da Vinci himself. His works are mythological, religious, and contemporary at the same time. Ultimately, all these styles and directions, inextricably mixed, combine in Moreau's canvases, forming original, highly individualized creations. Moreau considered painting to be a rich art, and this is very evident in his canvases.

2. Artist-misatron

Inclined to misanthropy, Moreau refused to exhibit his paintings, not even allowing them to be reproduced. Even stranger, Moreau was extremely reluctant to sell his work. "I love my art so much," he wrote, "that I will feel happy only if I write for myself."

3. Moreau dropped out of the most prestigious art school

Gustave Moreau was born in Paris on April 6, 1826. His father, Louis-Jean-Marie Moreau, was a successful architect in Paris, designed the building for the Ministry of the Interior, and was also the head of the construction of buildings on the Place de la Concorde and several other projects. The artist's mother, Adele Pauline Desmoutier, born in 1802, was the daughter of the former mayor of Douai. In general, the family of Gustave Moreau was well provided for, which allowed the parents to give their son a quality education. Moreau on the first attempt successfully entered the Higher National School of Fine Arts in Paris. By the way, anyone who wanted to become a famous artist and work in this area had to attend this school. However, the education itself did not meet the needs of Moreau and he … left the academy. Oddly enough, unfinished studies did not prevent Moreau from successfully participating in Salon exhibitions and becoming a famous painter.

4. Personal tragedy led to the emergence of a masterpiece

In love with one woman for 20 years and grief-stricken by her untimely death, in 1890 Gustave Moreau creates the painting "Orpheus on the grave of Eurydice." Her name was Alexandrina Dure. Melancholy and despair are expressed as much as possible on this canvas - this is also emphasized by the expressively painted landscape. The figure of Orpheus is the main accent in this alarmingly tense landscape-mood. The work belongs to many of Moro's typical canvases, expressing a state of mystery and ineffability.

5. Painting by Moreau - painting of spiritual dreams

For Moreau, as for da Vinci and Poussin, the artists he liked to refer to, painting was mental. He did not seek to recreate nature itself on canvas, but turned to his soul for answers. Moreau wanted to create works that, in his own words, are full of aspirations, dreams, enthusiasm and religious enthusiasm. Painting in which everything is sublime, inspiring, moral and wholesome. For Moreau, the intuition of the inner artist was more important than just drawing what the artist sees in front of him. Moreau's painting is designed to inspire dreams, not thoughts.

6. Moreau locked himself in the Academy of Saint Luke to paint a masterpiece

On October 18, 1857, Moreau left for Italy, a place he longed to see. This trip was really important for him, because he wanted to revive the historical painting, which he previously considered superficial and limited. In Rome, he personally saw Renaissance frescoes and masterpieces of antiquity. After observing the masterpieces of the Sistine Chapel for a long time, Moreau was able to copy part of the ceiling. And later.. Moreau literally locked himself in the Academy of St. Luke. Here he produced his bravura work: a tempera copy of Raphael's Putti. Later, the English lord wished to purchase this work. However, Moreau (as mentioned above, he was a misanthrope) preferred not to part with his Putti, whom the artist called his “child”.

7. Gustave Moreau wrote some of the most impressive and dramatic works

Never before have paintings taken such a dramatic turn as the paintings of the French painter Moreau. They became known for their impressive scale. A fabulous feature is associated with Moreau's works: he firmly believed that an artist must have an inner soul in order to demonstrate beautiful art. Art experts argue that Moreau was able to establish a connection between traditional painting practices and new experimental ideas that paved the way for the art school of the 20th century. Below you can see the most outstanding works of Moreau.

8. Angels in Moreau's works androgynous

Moreau's paintings are almost always a stunning landscape + human figures. So the work "Jacob and the Angel" contains two figures. One of them is Jacob, and the second figure is an Angel. The Angel's robe is precious and luxurious, while the artist depicted Jacob in one veil. The image of the Angel on the canvas is created in such a way that it is difficult to understand its gender - is it a man or a woman? Once again, da Vinci's influence played a role. The way the Angel's hand gently rests on Jacob guides him and gives him strength. Moreau's painting awakens the imagination of the audience, makes them delve deeper into colors and shapes in order to realize what is happening. And in most of his works, Moreau's figures are indeed ambiguous, as in Jacob and the Angel. Man and woman, good and evil - all elements are intertwined in Moreau's paintings.

9. Criticism literally collapsed on Moreau, but did not destroy his faith in his painting

Numerous experiments and non-standard pictorial approach often led to the fact that Moreau received a considerable amount of criticism in his address. However, this never deterred him, he continued to paint the way he wanted and felt. So the work "St. George and the Dragon" has endured a lot of negative responses from the art world. Inspired by mythological plots, the picture resembles a scene from a movie. Moreau describes a heroic moment of male power triumph. On a white horse, the main character of the canvas is George, who kills a dragon with a sword. The picture is gorgeous and makes the viewer ponder over the story. Who is George? Where did he come from and why did he kill the dragon? Moreau began painting this picture in 1870, but soon forgot about it for a long time and finished it only many years later, at the insistence of the customer, who paid 9,000 francs for the painting. Saint George slaying the dragon is a very popular subject in Renaissance painting. In the 19th century, interest in this topic with renewed vigor manifested itself primarily in England, where St. George was considered the embodiment of military valor.

10. Not wanting to sell his works during his lifetime, Moreau took care of the future of his paintings

Having sold few works during his lifetime, Moreau bequeathed his mansion to the state, along with a workshop where about 1,200 paintings and watercolors were kept, as well as more than 10,000 drawings. During the artist's lifetime, only 3 works were acquired by French museums, none by foreign ones.