Nikolaj Aleksandrovic Benois Biography
Nicola Alexandrovich Benois (Oranienbaum (Petersburg), 2 May 1901 – Codroipo (Udine), 30 March 1988) was a Russian set designer, painter and designer, known for his work as the main set designer of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Nicola was the son of Alexandre Benois, an influential artist, critic, historian and set designer. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, where his father was stage director of the Mariinsky Theatre, the imperial opera house. The family lived in their large villa near the opera house, built by grandfather Nikolai Benois. Nicholas studied art and design under his father before attending the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. After working as a set designer for some of the Mariinsky opera and ballet productions, he emigrated from Russia to Paris, France in 1923, where he worked for Sergei Diaghilev as a set designer for some of the Ballets Russes company's productions.
