Alphonse Mucha is a Czech artist who has left his mark on the history of painting. Today, the master's works are included in the collections of museums around the world.
Biography and personal life of Alphonse Mucha
Alphonse Mucha was born in the very center of Europe, in Moravia, in 1860.
The boy grew up very gifted and showed an interest in singing and drawing. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Academy of Arts, Alphonse Mucha tries himself in different fields: from a clerk in court to a poster decorator. For some time Mukha worked as a set designer in a theater. And later he received an offer to paint the walls of the castle of one count. Mucha's work impressed him so much that he offered the artist to pay for his studies at the Munich Academy of Arts. So Alphonse Mucha gets his patron, and he gets the opportunity to receive an excellent education.
By the time Mucha finishes his studies at the academy, his patron dies. The artist has no money left for painting supplies. But by chance, a famous actress of the time, fascinated by his work, recommended him for the position of chief decorator of the theater. Thus, he begins to work on posters, invitations and promotional posters. His works instantly become popular, and there is no end of customers. In parallel with this, the artist holds personal exhibitions in Paris.
At the National Theater in Paris, Mucha meets his future wife. A Czech woman named Maria Khitilova becomes his beloved. She is much younger than her chosen one. She becomes not only the love of his whole life, but also his wife and muse. They have three children: one son and two daughters.
From 1906 to 1910, Alphonse Mucha worked by invitation to the United States. There he paints portraits and teaches at New York University. Soon he returns to his homeland in the Czech Republic. By that time, his paintings were already known all over the world. In the Czech Republic, he takes up the implementation of his grandiose plan - the creation of monumental canvases depicting the history of the Slavic peoples. This work will be called "Slav Epic" and will be a gift from Fly to his homeland. At the same time Mucha will work on banknotes and stamps of independent Czechoslovakia.
By the beginning of the Second World War, Alphonse Muhu was taken into custody. He is accused of promoting anti-fascist ideas. In 1939, Alphonse Mucha barely has time to publish his memoirs and suddenly dies of pneumonia.
The legacy of Alphonse Mucha
Alphonse Mucha's son became a famous journalist, and his granddaughter creates decorative items based on the work of her famous grandfather. In 1998, his descendants opened the official museum of the artist in Prague. In the museum you can get acquainted with the life and work of the famous artist.
Throughout his life, Mucha became the author of several hundred works. His most famous creations are the famous series "Seasons", "Months", "Precious Stones", "Slav Epic". The work on the latter lasted for 20 years! The Slav Epic is 20 giant canvases depicting real historical events in the history of the Slavic peoples. These paintings are rightfully considered the best work of the master.
