Maurice Denis (1870 – 1945)
Research
Maurice Denis was born in France in 1870. During the transitional period between Impressionism and Modern Art, he stood as a significant figure. Although, his painting was not necessarily well recognized in his lifetime. Known as “Le Nabi aux Belles Icons” (“the prophet of beautiful icons”), Dennis was a painter, printmaker, writer, and designer, and one of the members of Les Nabis. Founded by Paul Sérusier, this group was formed based on Denis and his associates’ distaste in the Naturalism style that his school instructors had promoted. Les Nabis was instead devoted to the style of Symbolism. Thus, he was associated with the Symbolist Movement before returning to neo-classicism. Denis studied under Gauguin when he visited the artists’ colony in Pont-Aven, where his paintings adapted a mystical quality. Later, use of perspectival space and modeled forms appeared in his work, exemplifying his interest in Italian Renaissance paintings. His series of paintings in the twentieth century were set on the coast of Brittany and in modern times, and told stories based on classical mythology. He decorated the murals of many French churches and even the ceiling of Paris’ Champs Élysées Theatre. Denis also founded the Studios of Sacred Art with Georges Devallières in 1919. In art history, Denis is known as a leading force in France’s revival of religious art.
Bacchus and Ariadne is oil on canvas. On the surface, this painting could be interpreted as a recreational beach scene on the coast. However, here, Denis applies a modern treatment and traditional references to the story of Ariadne’s abandonment on the island of Naxos.
Denis has illustrated Dionysus standing behind Ariadne, draping a striped cloth around her; Ariadne’s three attendant nymphs resting on rocks; as well as various bacchantes and other figures riding horses on the water.
Opinion
This is my favourite painting by Maurice Denis. I love it. The colour scheme is so beautiful and is what makes this piece so lively. His faint pinks and strong blues and dark reds and warm flesh tones complement each other extremely well. Another aspect that works really well in “Baccus and Ariadne” is the subtle contrast of soft shapes and strong lines. This is one of Denis’ works that employs his use of traditional perspective and modeling. The perspective is demonstrated in subtle detail background detail of the clouds, the boat, and mountains, and the defined figures in the foreground, as well as the horizon line: this creates a realistic scene. Denis’ modeling in this piece is powerful as he really pushes the gradiations of value throughout the painting — from the rocks to the beautiful reflections of the sea, the shapes of the figures, and even the sand. I am inspired by Denis to create complicated scenes with range of colour, careful detail, and such graceful contrast.
Image credit:
Sources:
Akers, Torey. “Les Nabis, The 19th-Century Painting Cult You’ve Never Heard Of.” Artspace, 14 Sept. 2019, www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/close_look/les-nabis-the-19th-century-painting-cult-youve-never-heard-of-56240#:~:text=The Nabis eclecticlight.co/2019/03/29/the-beautiful-icons-of-maurice-denis-2/.
Hoakley, et al. “The Beautiful Icons of Maurice Denis 2.” The Eclectic Light Company, 28 Mar. 2019, eclecticlight.co/2019/03/29/the-beautiful-icons-of-maurice-denis-2/.
“Maurice Denis.” Artnet, www.artnet.com/artists/maurice-denis/.
“Maurice Denis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Denis.
“Maurice Denis.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 9 Nov. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Maurice-Denis.