Gustave Moreau
Gustave Moreau was born in 1826 in France. His father was an architect who relented to his son’s wishes to train as a painter. Gustave studied under Picot, who was not as well credentialed as other teachers but he was a clever art teacher. He then trained under Chassau, with whom he got on well.
He was obsessed with purity of ideas and form and the concepts behind romanticism. He passionately tried to improve everything throughout his life. His paintings were not of the landscapes and the scenes of the day, but rather mystic, and based on the Romantic themes of women like Delilah, Salome and Helen and other wily temptresses of men. Today his ideas would most likely be placed into the realms of male chauvinism. Many of his paintings that were not sold were reworked as he came up with new ideas, making it difficult to determine when the paintings were actually painted. He painted literary and mythological creatures in a highly imaginative way using rich colors. One of his most famous paintings is “Apparition” (1876) and another is an amazing scene from “Salome” (1876)
By the time he was fifty years old, his work had started to catch the eye of the people. An exhibition in 1876 set him in the path to greatness. He received many prizes for his work and life with the arts from the French government and other French establishments.
Gustav became a professor at the Ecole des Beaux art in Paris and was renowned as a caring and gifted teacher. He regarded himself as a “bridge over which his students passed”. His teaching was inspirational and let to Matisse and Rouault continuing their work.
Gustav Moreau died in 1898, and his home became a museum with over 8,000 pieces of interest. It was completely catalogued and kept in excellent condition.
The possibility of obtaining any of the great artworks by this artist is quite small, although from time to time they become available, but usually one needs to bid against international galleries for the artwork. Prints and cards have been produced by many suppliers of these works and other masters. For more information on the old masters and painters of the 18th century, go to http://uniquevintageprints.googlepages.com
Tags: artist, french art, french artist, french painter, gustave moreau, painter
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