http://www.artstyles.org/neoclassical-view/
Gustave Moreau was a famous French ‘Symbolist’ painter, born in Paris, on April 06, 1826. His paintings were mostly biblical and mythological in nature. In the times of ‘Realism,’ his literary ideas were not very widely accepted. Art critics often described his lavish illustrations as ‘Surreal’ and mystical, while the nineteenth century ‘Symbolists’ drew inspiration from his works.
Moreau was mostly home tutored. His parents, Louis Jean Marie Moreau and Adele Pauline des Moutiers, had a large collection of books and he studied everything from Roman Architecture to the Renaissance, and from Shakespeare to The Bible. Gustave always wanted to pursue his career in art and his parents well encouraged his decision. He studied the techniques of painting under a ‘Neoclassical’ painter and instructor Francois-Edouard Picot. Gustave was accepted in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. In 1849, he left the school, since he failed to win a scholarship to the prestigious Prix de Rome.
Gustave Moureau then started working independently through his father’s contacts. The artist attended the seasonal Salons and worked on government commissions. One of his first paintings was “Pieta” (Christian Art depicting Virgin Mary cradling dead Jesus), exhibited in the Salon of 1852. During the same time, Moreau befriended the ‘Romantic’ painters, Eugene Delacroix and Theodore Chasseriau. They introduced him to a different style of painting, using bright colors and dramatic lighting. Some examples of their influence on his paintings were seen in his exhibits of the Salon of 1853, which included “A Scene from Song of Songs” and the “Death of Darius.”
In 1856, Chasseriau passed away. The death of his close friend greatly disturbed Moreau. He stopped painting and travelled throughout the Europe to study artworks of ‘Renaissance’ artists and architectural remains. He was exposed to Byzantine enamels, early mosaics and studied Persian, Indian, and Japanese prints. Moreau returned to Paris in 1859. Here, he met Alexandrine Dureux, who became his lifelong companion.
All this while, Moreau strived to elevate his work, reinventing himself as a painter, while drawing inspiration from all his learning. Finally, Gustave Moreau achieved formal recognition of his talent in the Salon of 1864. Here, he displayed his controversial ‘Symbolist’ painting of “Oedipus and the Sphinx.” From then on to 1869, Moreau displayed various paintings in Salons each year. Some of his important works of repute include “Young Man and Death” & “Jason and Medea” in 1865, and “Orpheus” and “Diomedes Devoured by his Horses” in 1866. Press highly criticized Moureau’s use of brilliant colors, dramatic lighting, and the depictions of exotic eroticism. Disappointed, Moreau stopped participating in the Salons. He converted his home into a studio and worked in isolation, sharing his work with only his friends and few admirers. In the Salon of 1876, he returned to the art scene with “Hercules and the Hydra,” “Salome Dancing before Herod,” and “The Apparition,” which won him great fame. From then on, Gustave participated in Salons each year, until 1880, when he exhibited his last painting “Galatea and Helen.”
In 1888, Moreau became a painting instructor with Ecole des Beaux-Arts school. He proved to be an inspiring teacher, who encouraged his students to not paint by any rules of conformity and use their imaginations. Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault were among his devoted pupils. After Dureux’s death in 1890, Gustave’s art style turned more expressive. One of his last paintings was Jupiter and Semele, which he painted in 1869. Moreau’s passion for painting only grew with time. He explored new technicalities, experimented with scraped canvases, flowing brushwork, and thick impasto colors. He was often called the herald of ‘Abstract Expressionism’ and ‘Surrealism.’
Gustave Moreau died of stomach cancer on April 18, 1898, in Paris. He left his home and its contents to the state. It was later converted into a museum of his artworks and was opened for public in 1903.
Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.labedzki-art.com