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Georges Rouault This book is the product of many years’ work. The first stage was the appearance of Georges Rouault’s Paintings in the Hermitage collection of essays entitled French Art in the 15th - 18th centuries (1975). Later Dr Kostenevich made Georges Rouault’s art the subject of his doctoral dissertation, which he successfully defended at Moscow State University 13 years ago. These investigations were the basis for the present book, to which new material has also been added. Besides the master’s paintings and graphics, which have become part of the golden heritage of 20th century French art, Dr Kostenevich analyzes here Rouault’s literary works, something which has never been done before. The publication of this book dedicated to the work of an outstanding artist coincides with the opening of an exhibition in the Hermitage of Six Masterpieces by Rouault on loan from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, where a large collection of Rouault’s works is kept. Both this first exhibition in Russia of paintings by Georges Rouault and the publication of Dr Kostenevich’s book will help arouse interest in the art of one of the most original and profound masters of French culture. The curators of the Paris museum have given a great deal of assistance, as did Georges Rouault’s grandchildren, and the directors of the Fondation Rouault, who provided a large number of slides of the best works by the master. The Rouault monograph consists of five chapters: The Early Years, Prelude to Renewal, Types and Typology, Miserere, Conversations with Oneself, and Inner Light. The book concludes with a chronology of Georges Rouault’s life and works. “Rouault is one of the most original masters in France. The power of the images he created, the depth of feeling, force and penetration of expression already were manifest in his work dating from the turn of the 20th century…Looking back from the perspective of today, Rouault was undoubtedly the most important Christian artist of the 20th century.” So remarks the author in his introductory article. A. G. Kostenevich holds a doctorate in art history and is the chief researcher and curator of 19th - 20th century Western European art in the State Hermitage. He is the author of more than 150 publications on different issues in French, American and Mexican art, as well as Russian culture, Russian and European collecting. Dr Kostenevich has been the curator of numerous exhibitions in the Hermitage and abroad. Among his 29 published books are catalogs of the Hermitage collection of French painting of the second half of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries and monographic studies dedicated to the art of Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, Dufy and others. His book Unknown Masterpieces was published in 7 languages in 1995: in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan. |
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