The French painter Gustave Moreau was fluent in artistic techniques. Oil, watercolors and pastels of the exquisite brush of the mystical author still gather crowds of spectators who enjoy his paintings in museums in France. The plots of the paintings are unusual, they reflect the life of the spirit, biblical events.
Biography
Gustave Moreau is one of the outstanding painters of the 19th century. French by origin, the artist was a prominent representative of symbolism in painting. Gustave Moreau was born in Paris on April 6, 1826. Father was the chief architect of the French capital. From childhood, Gustave showed a talent for drawing and dreamed of becoming a professional artist. He was fond of various areas of painting, attended an art school.
Art education
In his youth, the artist developed a style and direction of work. Biblical themes were reflected in mysterious paintings with mystical subjects. The father had official connections and made sure that his son got a copyist certificate for the paintings. Now Gustave could freely visit the Louvre and study the paintings of the great masters of different eras and styles. Having gained experience and inspiration, Gustave Moreau expresses a desire to enter the Higher School of Fine Arts. Parents supported their son's aspirations, and already in 1846 he became a student of the famous master Francois Picot. Education at the school was rather conservative, but classes in anatomy, copying statues using plaster casts, studying the history of art made a significant contribution to the professional development of the artist.
After a failure in the competition for the Rome Prize, Gustave decides to leave Master Pico and go on a journey. Having visited the most famous cities of Italy, such as Naples, Rome, Florence and Venice, the young artist paints under the impression of the works of great masters. Returning to Paris, he exhibited his paintings at the Salon in 1849. His works gain fame, success comes quickly and the talented artist receives private orders for new works, and also collaborates with the state.
Career and success
In 1852, Gustave opened his own workshop on the third floor of a luxurious mansion that his father gave him. The heyday came, the career and creativity of the great artist took off. He has influential and famous friends, the artist continues to receive orders from the state, leads a luxurious social life. In 1888 he became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1891 he received the post of professor at the School of Arts in Paris. The delicate works of Gustave Moret are imbued with sacred mysticism. They became a real delicacy for the elite public who visited museums.
In 1856, in memory of his friend and teacher Theodore Chasserio Moreau painted the painting "The Youth and Death".
Brutal losses
Gustave Moreau was very attached to his family. He loved and honored his father, who was his mentor. The artist was especially kind to his mother. She was for him the personification of femininity and high spirit.
After the death of his father in 1862, dejected by the loss of a loved one, Gustave plunged into painting.
In 1884, the artist's mother dies. This event deeply shocked Gustave Moreau and affected the creative work of the master.
In the early 1890s, a new shock awaits the painter - his beloved wife dies. Health problems begin, advanced age affects.
Gustave Moreau died in 1898 and was buried in the Montmartre cemetery.
