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GustaveMoreau

 

Gustave Moreau, born on April 6, 1826, in Paris, was a seminal figure in the Symbolist movement, hailed by art critic Jean Cassou as "the Symbolist painter par excellence." His work, characterized by allegorical and mythological subjects, positioned him as a leading symbolist painter, especially during the 1890s. Moreau's oeuvre, comprising over 15,000 paintings, watercolors, and drawings, revitalized classical themes with a unique, symbolist language that made his depictions of biblical and mythological women iconic representations of the movement. Although his symbolism fell out of favor in the early 20th century, a resurgence of interest since the 1960s has reaffirmed his status as a paramount symbolist painter.

Moreau's early talent in drawing led him to a traditional academic training in painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. His close association with Théodore Chassériau, a mentor-like figure, influenced his early career. Following Chassériau's death in 1856, Moreau traveled to Italy, returning with numerous studies of old master paintings. His breakthrough came with the painting "Oedipus and the Sphinx" in 1864, which earned critical acclaim at the Paris Salon and established his reputation. Despite continued success, harsh criticism in the late 1860s led him to withdraw from Salon exhibitions after 1880.

Awarded the Officier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1883, Moreau became increasingly reclusive, maintaining a small circle of friends and often refraining from selling or exhibiting his work. He declined several prestigious offers, including professorships and exhibition invitations, only accepting a teaching position at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts after the death of his friend Élie Delaunay in 1891. As a teacher, he influenced notable artists like Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault. Moreau lived and worked in a townhouse his parents bought in 1852, where he remained a bachelor until his death from cancer in 1898.

Moreau bequeathed his extensive collection of artworks to the State, resulting in the establishment of the Musée Gustave Moreau, which opened in 1903. This museum, housing the largest collection of his work, including nearly 1200 paintings and watercolors and over 10,000 drawings, remains a significant testament to his artistic legacy.



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