Albert Kostenevitch is a graduate in humanitiesfrom the university of Irkutsk. He is an arthistorian attached to the Hermitage Museum,Saint Petersburg, and a specialist in'the Fauvesand Nabis period of French painting. He is alsothe author of French Paintings.

Pierre Bonnard was the leader of a groupof post-impressionist painters whocalled themselves the Nabis, From the Hebrew word meaning 'prophet'.Bonnard, Vuillard, Roussel and Denis, the most distinguished of the Nabis,revolutlonized the sprat of decorative techniques during one of the richest periodsin the history of French painting. Influenced by Odilon Redon and Puvis deChavannes, as well as by popular imagery and Japanese etchings, this post-impressionist group was, above all, a Close circle of friends who shared the samecultural background and interests. An increasing individualism in their art oftenthreatened the group's unity, and although tied together by a common philosophy,their work clearly diverged. This publication lets us compare and put intoperspective the artists within this fascinating group.

The works presented in this collection offer a palette of extraordinary poeticexpressions: candid in Bonnard, ornamental and mysterious in Vuillard, gentlydream-like in Denis, grim and almost bitter in Vallotton. The author shares with usthe lives of these artists to the very source of their creative gifts.

Pierre Bonnard

Life

Masterworks

The Nabis

Edouard Vuillard

Ker Xavier Roussel

Maurice Denis

Felix Vallotton

Biographies

Notes

Bibliography

Index