MAIL

The correct name is Leon Bakst aka Lev Rosenberg and not Levy Rozenberg. He was deeply influenced by Benoit.

Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg was born to a middle class Jewish family in Grodno, Belarus, Former part of the Soviet Union on May 10, 1866 and died in Paris on December 27, 1924. He was educated at the gymnasium in St. Petersburg in Russia and then at the Academy of Fine Arts. He started his artistic career as an illustrator for magazines but changed his mind when he met Alexander Benois who influenced his life and his carrer. Rosenberg visited several European countries and came in contact with prominent European artists, painters, composers, musicians and media members. After his return to St Petersburg, he began to gain notoriety for his book designs and his portraits. In 1898, together with Benois (read below) and Serge Diaghilev, he founded the group World of Art (Mir Iskusstva). In 1906 he became a teacher of drawing in Yelizaveta Zvantseva's private art school where, among other students, he taught Marc Chagall.

Bakst's greatest achievements are in the field of theatre. He debuted with the stage design for the Hermitage and Aleksandrinskii theatres in St. Petersburg in 1902-3. Afterwards, he received several commissions from the Marinskii theatre (1903-4). In 1909 he began his collaboration with Diaghilev, which resulted in founding of the legendary Ballets Russes, where he became the artistic director. His stage designs quickly brought him international fame. Most notable are his costume designs for Diaghilev's Sheherazade (1910) and L'Apres-midi d'un Faune. He settled in Paris in 1912, after being exiled because of his Jewish origins. [S.C.]

Russian painter and stage designer Alexander Benois (1870-1960) was born in a family of a St. Petersburg architect. He grew up in an atmosphere of love and respect for the arts. One of his brothers was also an architect and the other an excellent water-colorist. In 1894 Benois received a law degree from the St. Petersburg University and from 1896 till 1899 lived in France. There, he became fascinated with the life of Versailles and the epoch of Louis the XIV. Researching the period, Benois discovered the memoirs of the Count Louis de Saint-Simon, an eyewitness of the Sun-King's last years. Later, he used the memoirs for a series of paintings about life in the Versailles.

Chinese Pavillion: The Jealous One, painted in 1906, is related to the Versailles series. The actions of the characters are simplified until they acquire the schematic nature of the Italian commedia dell' arte. Placing the Chinese Pavillion in the centre of the painting, Benois elevates it to the status of the main "hero" of his work. One of Benois' favorite artistic devices, the impression that the human figures are just puppets, "governed" by majestic architecture, in this work is strengthened by the fact that the pavillion resembles a precious toy and dominates the composition, which corresponds to the World of Art notion that theater is first of all a spectacle, a "feast for the eyes." Benois conjures a precious "object d'art," in which the turquoise sky with myriads of stars, the mysterious glow of the lights of the pavillion, and the doll-like tiny figures make us feel that we are looking at a delicate toy, perhaps at an elaborate music box.

After returning to St. Petersburg, Benois admitted that "no Versailles could compare with impressions made by Peterhof and Pavlovsk." As if he wanted to prove his point, he published highly acclaimed illustrations to Pushkin's Bronze Horseman and The Queen of Spades. Nevertheless, as before, the "heroes" of his illustrations are not the people but their surroundings, the landscape, the atmosphere and the spirit of the city. One of the founders of the World of Art group, Benois, like many of his colleagues, refused to search for beauty in the chaos of contemporary life, and turned entirely to the past, producing series of paintings devoted to Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine the Great. The World of Art circle was responsible for the revival of Russian book illustration, astonishing theatrical productions, rekindling of interest in the beauty of St. Petersburg, and the study of Russian art of the eighteenth and the nineteenth century. Benois' international fame rests on his stage designs; he fused in them the traditional Russian folk elements with the French Rococo style. Theatrical spectacle for Benois was a fanciful invention, a stage magic, and a mirage. He assumed the role of a "theatrical wizard" who offered the viewers brilliant but purely fantastic images. He collaborated with Serge Diaghilev both in Russia and in Paris on a number of ballets, Giselle, Le Pavillon d'Armide, Les Sylphides, and Petrushka (1909-11), for which he wrote the libretto and made designs. The critics admitted that despite the "florid and wildly varied colors of the stage decorations and costumes, during the performance of Petrushka they could feel a deeply Russian harmony, a mixture of naive barbarism and refinement" (Klimov, 239). Benois also collaborated with the Moscow Art Theater (MKhAT), where he directed and designed plays by Moliere, Goldoni, and Pushkin.

Benois published portfolios of art treasures of Russia and a History of Russian Painting (1904). After the Revolution, he was made curator of the painting at the Hermitage. In 1926 he left Russia and settled in Paris where he spent the rest of his life, involved in staging about 200 operas and ballets in many cities of Europe and America. [S.C. and A.B.)

Dear Dr. Erica, I am Lebanese from Byblos, Lebanon, one of the oldest cities and ancient metropolis in the world when it was an important city of Phoenicia (Modern Lebanon). In our country, landscape painting is important. Much more important than abstract art. To confess the truth, traditional and classical artists are the real painters in my eyes and in the eyes of many of our Lebanese compatriots. Our artists were influenced by French painters. Before we had our art academies, Lebanese painters would spend four to five years in France studying painting on the hand of extremely well known and famous painters. Really, I believe that Lebanese artists are the strongest and most legitimate classical painters in the whole Middle East. The painters you wrote about, I mean painters from Jordan, Palestine and other Arab countries are Ok but they are not as good as the classically trained Lebanese artists. Lebanon made great artists like Oman Onsi, Salibi, Corm and Joseph Matar who is recognized in the Middle East and Europe. You should see his work. He is really brilliant. I visited his gallery. I took two or three paintings from his collection. Please open the attachments where you will find them. If you think they are not as good as the best landscape painters in Europe do not print them. Mr. Matar is considered by the Lebanese artists, newspapers and French art critics as one of the best landscape artists of the century. Please introduce him to your international readers. You will be going them a great favor. Writing an article on Joseph Matar is a very important issue. You should write a very clear and documented article on him. First look at the photos and tell me what you think. With a great respect from me and many of our friends in Byblos, Lebanon.

Dear Roger and Joseph. I am very familiar with Dr. Joseph Matar’s work. In fact, we did email him a few days ago to inform him that, an essay on his work is en route to our pages. Most certainly, he is one of the most prominent artists in the Middle and Near East. Be patient my friends, a most informative article about the accomplishments and talent of this outstanding artist, thinker and poet shall appear in a place of honor in our journal. On the other hand, I do not agree with you on the issue/statement pertaining to the credibility and artistic importance of contemporary abstract art. We should respect other artists’ style and ways of expression.

Art is universal. Art is multi-dimensional at so many levels and you should see it that way. Your preferences go to classical art, that’s fine. Many others fell more comfortable with Cubism, abstract art, Surrealism, Minimalist, Impressionism, etc…As you see dear friends, the world of art is immense. Art is “how you look at it and perceive it, not as you define it. For art escapes definition. Once you define art, you limit it. And once limited, art dies!”. Yes, we do know who Joseph Matar is! One of the most distinguished artists in the Arab World, the universe of Phoenicia and the leader of Lebanese Traditional Landscape Painting and Comparative cultural and artistic movement for almost 40 years! Are you pleased now? We are!

Dear Erica, I wish you were my art teacher! You know so much and you are so helpful and modest. Our teacher is a piece of sh…. I need unusual reference material on Russian avant-garde art. Simple question Erica: Do you have a list of the best books on the subject and edition dates?

Rose-Marie, I got it for you, here it is. You know, you should not call your art teacher a piece of Sh...Thank you for the compliment. Let me know how are you doing with your research. Thank you for the nice message you left with Valerie. Rose-Marie, when you reach my age 82! Life changes with your age too! No, I can not travel back to New York….I am here in Vienna….Good luck with your studies, dear. If you need any additional assistance in your research, just let me know…I love to help out. Take care, dear.

The Avant-Garde in Russia, 1910-1930: New Perspectives. Exhibition Catalogue. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1980.

Barlamova E. N. Portret v russkoi zhivopisi XVIII-XIX vekov (32 otkrytki). Moskva: Izobrazitel'noe iskusstvo, 1988.

Bobrov, I. G. Istoriia restavracii drevnerusskoi zhivopisi. Leningrad: Khudozhnik RSFSR, 1987.

Bowlt, John E. Russian Art of the Avant-Garde: Theory and Criticism. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1988.

Bowlt, John E. The Silver Age: Russian Art of the Early Twentieth Century and the "World of Art" Group. Newtonville, Massachusetts: Oriental Research Partners, 1982.

Bulkin, Valentin, editor. Dionysius: Masters of World Painting. Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, 1982.

Butromeev, V. Illustrirovannaia Enciklopedicheskaia Biblioteka: Iskusstvo Rossii. Moskva: Sovremennik, 1997.

Cavarnos, Constantine. Guide to Byzantine Iconography, vol. 1. Boston, Massachusetts: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1991.

Chagall Discovered: From Russian and Private Collections. New York: Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc., 1988.

Chipp, Herschel B. Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by Artists and Critics. Berkeley, Los ANgeles and London: University of California Press, 1968.

Duechting, Hajo. Wassily Kandinsky 1866-1944: A Revolution in Painting. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1996.

Faerna, Jose Maria, gen. ed. Great Modern Masters: Chagall. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (Cameo/Abrams), 1995.

Fateev, V. Portraits of Prominent Figures in Russian Culture: 18th to 20th Century Painting (16 otkrytok). Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, 1987.

Fedorov-Davydov, A. A. Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel'. Moskva: Iskusstvo, 1968.

Gray, Camilla. The Russian Experiment in Art 1863-1922. Revised and enlarged by Marian Burleigh-Motley. London: Thames and Hudson, 1986.

Hamilton, George Heard. The Art and Architecture of Russia. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.

Kalokyris, Constantine D. The Essence of Orthodox Iconography. Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, n.d.

Klimov, E.E. Russkie khudozhniki: Sbornik statei. New York: Knigoizdatel'stvo Put' Zhizni, 1974.

Kozlova, Yulia. Masterpieces of the Tretiakov Gallery. TVS Trading, Inc. and the Tretiakov Gallery, 1994, no place.

Lazarev, Viktor N. The Russian Icon: From Its Origins to the Sixteenth Century. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1996.

Lebedev, Andrei, compiler. The Itinerants: Society for Circulating Art Exhibitions [1870-1923]. London and Sydney: Pan Books and Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, 1982.

Massie, Suzanne. Land of the Firebird: The Beauty of Old Russia. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1980.

Misler, Nikoletta, Boult, Dzhon. Filonov: Analiticheskoe iskusstvo. Moskva: Sovetskii Khudozhnik, 1990.

Moscow: Treasures and Traditions. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, 1990.

Nouwen, Henri J. M. Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons. Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press, 1987.

Onasch, Konrad. Icons. South Brunswick and New York: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1963.

O'Neill, Bekah. The Life and Works of Kandinsky: A Compilation of Works from the Bridgeman Library. New York: Shooting Star Press, 1995.

Ouspensky, Leonid. Theology of the Icon, vol. 1-2. Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1992.

Ouspensky, Leonid and Lossky, Vladimir. The Meaning of Icons. Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1983.

Parker, Fan and Stephen Jan. Russia on Canvas: Ilya Repin. University Park and London: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1980.

Petrova, Yevgenia, editor. The Russian Museum: A Centennial Celebration of a National Treasure. St. Petersburg: State Russian Museum (Palace Editions), 1998.

Prokhorov, A.M., editor. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Inc., 1970.

Rice, David and Tamara Talbot. Icons and Their History. New York: The Overlook Press, 1974.

Rice, Tamara Talbot. A Concise History of Russian Art. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1963.

Rubissaw, Helen. The Art of Russia. New York: The Philosophical Library, 1946.

Rudenstine, Angelica Zander. Russian Avant-Garde Art: The George Costakis Collection. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1981.

Sarab'ianov, A. D. Neizvestnyi russkii avant-gard v muzeiakh i chastnykh sobraniiakh. Moskva: Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1992.

Sokolova, Natalya. Selected Works of Russian Art. Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, 1976.

Treasures from the Kremlin: An Exhibition from the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (distributed by Harry N. Abrams), 1979.

Treasures of the Czars from the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin. London: Booth-Clibborn Editions, 1995.

Turner, Jane, editor. The Dictionary of Art. New York: Macmillan Publishers Limited, 1996.

Valkenier, Elizabeth. Russian Realist Art. The State and Society: The Peredvizhniki and Their Tradition. Ann Arbor: Ardis, 1977.

Vzdornov, G. I., editor. Troica Andreia Rubleva: Antologiia. Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1989.

Weitzmann, Kurt. The Icon: Holy Images--Sixth to Fourteenth Century. New York: George Braziller, 1978.

Yablonskaia, M.N. Women Artists of Russia's New Age, 1905-1935. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., 1990.

Yamshchikov, Savely, editor. Pskov: Art Treasures and Architectual Monuments 12th-17th centuries. Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, 1978.

Zotov, A.I. Russkoe iskusstvo s drevnikh vremen do nachala XX veka. Moskva: Iskusstvo, 1979.

THE CANADIAN ARTISTS AND CANADA ART COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED BUT NOT ALARMED!

This is on behalf of a large group of artists and art dealers in Canada. We are not concerned with politics. We are artists and art dealers who take care of their own business. Recent political statements by Canadian politicians should not affect our art relations and art business with colleagues from the United States. This story should not become an incident for artists. It should not negatively affect our business in the United States. We do not express political opinions in our communications and art transactions with friends and business partners in other countries. Iraq, Israel, American foreign policy are in the hand of politicians and heads of states. Art and art business are our only and main concerns. Articles appeared in our Canadian press with opinions and statements from various political and social camps. We the art community wants to be left out of this delicate matter. To clear the atmosphere for your international audience and readers, it is advisable to print some excerpts from the national media and news coverage, accompanied by independent opinions of Canadian citizens. We have amassed opinions, comments and press articles for your use in your magazine. We might have different points of view on many issues on the American political agenda but we do not call AMERICANS BASTARDS. They are our neighbors and neighbors should be considered as allied and assets in all conditions. It is up to you to publish our letter, concerns and press clippings. I wish you would. We the art community are concerned but not alarmed. We have written to you before but did not publish our letter. We are here elaborating further with our fingers cross. Are you going to print our mail this time? I saw you did print press clippings from our national media, very good.

Robert Maraix, Evelyne Dutronc, Yvette-Marie Saint Laurent, Tim Byron, Judith Baker and friends. (Ottawa, Ontario, Quebec, and the rest of the country).

______________________________________________________________________________________________

We need foreign correspondents

for our Journal worldwide to cover

news, interview artists, write articles

and report on majors events. If you

are interested please write directly to:

Dr. Giselle von Guttenbergersen at:

artcanada@canada.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

DE LA CROIX IS BOTH: AUTHOR AND ARTIST

Dear Erica, two quick questions maybe three. Is de La Croix more of a writer and author or an artist? I saw many of his paintings in black and white but other publications on him showed many paintings in colors, some like 200 or 300 of them, is true? Where can I see some? Do you have links to websites on him not by directories but agents!

Maggie Suderlands, Ottawa, Canada

Maggie, de La Croix wrote 97 books and at least 6 musicals. One of them was produced at one of the United States most prestigious theaters, if not the most prestigious one: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, USA in 1984, he was the playwright, composer and director of the show which had a cast of 235 artists on stage! Wow!! The Musical-Play title is” Marmara the Gypsy”. He wrote the play-musical as well as 42 songs of the show! Yes, he is an author and an artist, an unconventional rebel artist . We shall reprint the article we had on him last week. We deleted it based upon his request. Links to his work are below. Now look at those black and white paintings, they are lovely, but as he said, they do not represent the essence of his work. He is much more into colors than into ultra-contempo compositions. See more below. I listed the links below.

ppBlack and White oil paintings by de La Croix. It is estimated that he completed more than 350 paintings in black and white and approximately 4,000 in colors.

LINKS TO DE LA CROIX AND OTHER NEO CUBISTS

Need links to some listings about the national center of progressive neo cubism in the United States and a special link to Mr. Maximillien de La Croix’s books. I know he wrote many books, where can I review some of them? I understand, some times we see many listings and links to an author or an artist if we type his name in search. Many times the name does not appear anymore because publishers pay money for listing each name. Last year I saw Encyclopedia Britannica listing De La Croix’s name in a search engine. Impressive, I looked it up now and it is gone. The same thing happened with Barnes and Noble. A few months ago I purchased some of de La Croix’s books, and now look at, no more listing. Do you have any “mysterious” link to his books. By the way, I just found out de La Croix has a very long name, Jean-Maximillien de La Croix de Lafayette. Why all that? Strange!

Irma Pontificato, Firenze, Italy

Provided. At least some. I could not list hundreds of links to de La Croix. . I just picked the easiest ones.

BELOW: Link to his books, at least part of his published work (listing 52 books out of 97).

To learn more about de La Croix de Lafayette’s books and encyclopedias, we encourage you to visit Barnes and Noble on line at: http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksear/results.asp?userid=2MT7UPUMA1&mscssid=RV76KELWB1S92KR50017QRP4NV0D1SF6&WRD=De+Lafayette+Jean+M&OPR=A&sort=A ( Listing 56 published books, encyclopedias and International best sellers in various fields: anthropology, history of modern thought, comparative philosophy, French literature, law, motion picture, fashion, American women and men, courts systems, life around the globe, divorces, psychology....many other fields...)

1- http://www.de-la-croix.netfirms.com (Club de La Croix Germany. The German National Center for the Development of de La Croix's Progressive Neo Cubism in Europe. A very good site, large and informative)********

5- http://www.delacroix.relations.com (International Link to worldwide members, Billboard, Messages, Replies, Opportunities. It is fun! Only Members can log in. You need a password)

6- http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/worldartcelebrities This is the Official site of the World Art Celebrities Journal. Many articles about de La Croix. In some instances, the journal published reviews and articles by de La Croix on various subjects. A great site!*******

Internet websites belonging to non profit organizations and groups, centers for the arts and clubs, associations and connoisseurs of de La Croix’s cubism who expressed genuine and keen interest in his art.

8- http://www.angelfire.com/folk/tributeto-delacroix This is an enormous and a very important website jointly prepared by many groups, association and individuals paying tribute to the artist where you can view over 500 paintings! **************

Websites belonging to art dealers, agents, sales representatives, galleries and companies that exhibit and sell de La Croix’s art:

4- http://www.angelfire.com/art2/delacroix_berthier (Les Galleries Solange Berthier, Salon de L’Art Moderne, The Theodore Marlins Collection, France. Portugal, Spain, Middle East, USA. A very pretty website. Fun!)***********

5- http://www.angelfire.com/retro/delacroix_art (Agence Grenadier, The Gardener Art Consortium, France, Western Europe, USA. A great and a large section on the artist’s black and white work. Quite impressive!)*********

· Brooklyn Public Library /All Locations - ... de la, 1653-1727 -- See --Saint-Vallier, Jean-Baptiste de la Croix de Chevrières de, 1653-1727 1 Croix de Lafayette, Jean-Maximillien de La -- See --De La ...
http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary.org:90/k

· Armoiries - ... des Eaux et Forêts de Clermont, pays de Beauvaisis en Vexin: Écartelé au 1 d`hermine; au 2 d`argent à la croix potencée d`or ... Maximillien Gauthier, cons. ...
http://www.association-gauthier.org/pages/bla

· Innovative Library /All Locations - ... 22, La Casse Walter J, 1955, 1. 23, La Cour LF, [c1962], 1. 24, La Croix De Lafayette Jean Maximillien De -- see --De La Croix De Lafayette Jean Maximillien, 1. ...
http://www.iii.com:90/kids/1899,1901/search/a

· RUDOLF WINDISCH MAXIMILLIAN VON COSSEL - ... Sous la pluie, Maximillien reprend la route la plus directe ... Le Kaiser décerne à von Cossel la Croix de l’Ordre de la Maison des Hohenzollern avec épées et ...
http://club.euronet.be/philippe.saintes/windi

· USA, Countries, Online Exhibitions, Visual Arts, Performing Arts ... - ... De La Croix Cubism National resource center for the promotion of Progressive Neo Cubism Movement of Maximillien de La Croix and other Contempo Cubist Artists. ... ****************
http://wwar.com/categories/Online_Exhibitions

· Open Directory - Arts: Visual Arts: Painting: Painters: ... - ... de La Croix, Maximillien - Parisian artist presents Neo Abstract Art/Progressive Cubism. De Miguel, José-Luis - Paintings. Bilingual site (Spanish, English). ... ****************
http://dmoz.org/Arts/Visual_Arts/Painting/Pai

MAIL: ASK ERICA

David Rosenberg, Forth Worth, Texas, USA

Prokhorov, A.M., editor. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Inc., 1970.

Rubissaw, Helen. The Art of Russia. New York: The Philosophical Library, 1946.

HELP WANTED!! URGENT!!

We need foreign correspondents

DE LA CROIX IS BOTH: AUTHOR AND ARTIST

Maggie Suderlands, Ottawa, Canada

LINKS TO DE LA CROIX AND OTHER NEO CUBISTS

Irma Pontificato, Firenze, Italy

Links to Large Websites about M. de La Croix’s Art