The famous sculptor of French origin gave Russia not only wonderful works, but also became the father of talented children. His daughter is world-famous artist Zinaida Serebryakova, as well as two sons Evgeny Lansere and Nikolai Lansere, who also dedicated their lives to art.
Evgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere was the grandson of an officer of the Napoleonic army, Paul Lansere. From the biography of Paul it is known that during the battle of Smolensk an officer was captured. Since he did not have a desire to return to his homeland in France, his brother was executed during the rule of Napoleon, Paul received Russian citizenship.
Family E.A. Lanceray
After some time, the young man married Baroness Olga Karlovna Taube. As a result of this union, their son Ludwig Alexander Lansere was born. During a service on the railway, Ludwig Alexander is sent to the city of Morshansk, where he marries a local girl, Eleanor Antonovna Yakhimovskaya. In the summer, August 24, 1848, a son, Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere, is born into the family. Ludwig Alexander Lansere remakes his name in the Russian manner, and now he is called Alexander Pavlovich.
The Lansere family moved to St. Petersburg from Morshansk in 1861. The works of the young sculptor were presented in the workshops of Peter Karlovich Claude and Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, where they received high marks. Eugene begins to regularly exhibit his sculptural groups at exhibitions at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Evgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere with his future wife, Ekaterina Nikolaevna Benois, met at the exhibition of his sculptures at the Academy of Fine Arts. Eugene never studied as a sculptor. He was a lawyer by training, but even during his studies at St. Petersburg University he did not give up his hobby.
Ekaterina Nikolaevna Benois is interested in painting. She attends the Academy as a freelance student. Her wonderful watercolors adorned the dining room in the family home. Catherine and Eugene were married in 1876. The young wife in everything strives to help her husband, who turned out to be very complex.
Sculptor character
In his memoirs, Alexander Benois writes that the character of Eugene was extremely unbalanced. His attitude to people was ironic and evil tone, even his beloved wife got it. Despite the French blood and Catholic religion, Eugene fiercely defended Orthodoxy and often engaged in fierce debates on religious topics with Benois's friend, the old man Giovanni Bianchi, who was an outstanding landscape photographer.
Eugene, like his grandfather, was in love with Russia. All Russian and Slavic is reflected in his work. During a fascinating trip to the Caucasus, he liked to wear Circassian clothes. His favorite costume consisted of: Tatar boots, velvet harem pants and a gray snap-button fastening on the side, a Caucasian hat was wearing on his head.
Eugene transferred his love for everything Russian to his work, which can be considered endlessly. Thanks to his natural talent, the sculptor saw the details perfectly and created realistic compositions with the participation of horses, camels, sheep and people. A look at his sculptures gives the impression that horses and riders will come to life and continue on their way.
