At fifteen, Denis decided he would become a Christian painter. At eighteen, he wrote the theoretical manifesto for a group that called themselves prophets. Within the Nabis, his nickname was "le Nabi aux belles icones", the prophet of beautiful icons.
Key facts
- Lived
- 1870–1943, French
- Movements
- Works held in
- 75 museums[1]
Biography
His father worked at a railway station. His mother, the daughter of a miller, worked as a seamstress. Denis grew up in Granville and Saint-Germain-en-Laye with religion and art as twin preoccupations. He enrolled at the Academie Julian in 1888, where Paul Serusier had just returned from Pont-Aven carrying a small landscape painted under Gauguin's direct instruction. That panel, later called The Talisman, became the catalyst for the Nabis. Denis, Serusier, Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard and Paul Ranson formalised the group in 1890, taking "Nabi" from the Hebrew word for prophet.
Denis's 1890 article in Art et Critique, The Definition of Neo-Traditionalism, gave the group its intellectual spine. Its most quoted line argues that a painting is essentially a flat surface covered in colours assembled in a certain order, before it is a battle horse or a nude. The statement would echo through Fauvism, Cubism and abstraction for the next century. His patron Henry Lerolle, an industrialist and amateur painter, purchased early works and enabled Denis to sustain his career through a period when the Nabis were commercially marginal.
He married Marthe Meurier in 1893. She was a pianist, and her musical sensibility pushed Denis to explore relationships between colour and sound. His painting grew increasingly decorative: wallpapers, stained glass, tapestries, lampshades, fans. Japanese woodblock prints and Fra Angelico shared equal influence on his compositional thinking. After the First World War, he founded the Ateliers d'Art Sacre and spent his later decades decorating church interiors, returning full circle to that fifteen-year-old's ambition. He died in Paris in 1943, struck by a lorry during the blackout.
Timeline
- 1870Born in Granville, a coastal town in Normandy. His father worked at the railway station and his mother was a seamstress.
- 1888Enrolled at the Academie Julian in Paris at 18, where he met Paul Serusier, Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard.
- 1890Co-founded Les Nabis with his Academie Julian classmates at 20 in Paris. That same year he published his landmark essay declaring that a painting is "essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order".
- 1893Married Marthe Meurier at 23 in Paris. She became his most frequent model and they would have seven children together.
- 1900Painted Homage to Cezanne at 30, a group portrait of the Nabis gathered around a Cezanne still life that became one of his best-known works.
- 1919Founded the Ateliers d'Art Sacre (Workshops of Sacred Art) in Paris at 49 with painter George Desvallieres, dedicating himself to the revival of religious art.
- 1943Died in Paris at 73, struck by a lorry during the German occupation of the city.
Notable Works
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Where to See Maurice Denis
7 museums worldwide.
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4 works
Museum of Fine Arts of Reims
Reims, France
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3 works
Centre national des arts plastiques
Paris, France
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3 works
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper
Quimper, France
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1 works
Maison de Victor Hugo
Hôtel de Rohan-Guémené, France
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1 works
Musée d'art moderne (Saint-Étienne)
Saint-Étienne, France
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1 works
Musée d'Art Moderne de Fontevraud
Fontevraud, France
Related Artists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maurice Denis known for?
Maurice Denis is known for being part of the Nabis, a group of artists he formed with others in 1888. He organised and participated in group exhibitions and executed both easel and large-scale decorative paintings.What is Maurice Denis's most famous work?
Maurice Denis is known as a theorist for the group of young artists called the Nabis (Hebrew for 'prophet'). His most famous statement, now a tenet of modern art, appeared in his 1890 Manifeste du Mouvement Nabi: 'Remember that a painting, before it is a cavalry horse, a female nude, or any other subject, is primarily a flat surface covered with colours arranged in a certain order.' His 1893 painting, *The Muses*, is among his best-known works. The theme derives from the Sacred Grove motif, which the artist transposed into contemporary life. In the painting, the muses have become mortal women. Under stylised trees, one young woman sharpens her crayon, becoming the goddess of painting. Another looks up from her book; she is the goddess of poetry. The painting's treatment of mythology and stringent stylisation makes the work ambivalent and enigmatic. Denis's paintings often possess a spiritual essence with simplified forms, distinct halos, and colour harmonies.What should I know about Maurice Denis's prints?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) was a French painter, theorist, and printmaker associated with the Symbolist and Nabis movements. He explored religious and mythological themes, often with a decorative sensibility. Denis's printmaking output included lithographs and woodcuts. These prints often relate to his paintings and larger decorative projects. He embraced printmaking as a means of disseminating his artistic ideas to a wider audience. His prints frequently exhibit simplified forms, flattened perspective, and sinuous lines, all characteristic of the Art Nouveau aesthetic. One notable series is "Amour", a suite of lithographs published in 1899. These prints, based on earlier paintings, depict scenes of love and courtship in an idyllic setting. They demonstrate Denis's interest in capturing emotional states and spiritual experiences through visual form. He also created woodcut illustrations for books, such as "Sagesse" by Paul Verlaine. These illustrations display his ability to translate literary themes into a graphic language. Denis's prints offer insight into his broader artistic concerns, such as the relationship between art and spirituality, and the potential of art to evoke emotion.What style or movement did Maurice Denis belong to?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) is associated with the Nabis, a group of young French artists influenced by Paul Gauguin. They met at the Académie Julien in Paris. The name 'Nabis' derives from the Hebrew word for 'prophets'. Other members included Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard. The Nabis embraced aspects of oriental mysticism and aimed to express the spiritual in their art. They also admired Japanese art. Denis is considered the theorist of the Nabis. His statement, 'A picture before being a warhorse, a female nude, or some anecdote, is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a particular order' is a fundamental tenet of modern art. The Nabis explored various media, including poster design, stained glass, theatre sets, and book illustration. Denis, a devout Catholic, was known as the 'Nabi of beautiful icons'. In 1900, he painted *Homage to Cézanne*, depicting Nabis artists in Ambroise Vollard's gallery.What techniques or materials did Maurice Denis use?
Maurice Denis worked across several media, including painting, printmaking, and decorative arts. He is associated with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists. Denis is known for his paintings using tempera and oil on canvas. His style often incorporated flat planes of colour and simplified forms. He explored religious and mythological subjects, as well as scenes of modern life. Examples include "Princesses September" (1926) and "The Little Train in the Fields" (1899). In addition to painting, Denis produced numerous prints, including lithographs and woodcuts. These prints often mirrored the themes and aesthetic qualities of his paintings. He also designed stained glass windows, mosaics, and murals for churches and public buildings. These projects allowed him to integrate his artistic vision into architectural spaces. Denis also wrote extensively on art theory. He articulated his ideas about the role of art in society and the importance of spiritual expression.What was Maurice Denis known for?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) is remembered as a theorist and a painter. He is particularly known for his association with the Nabis, a group of young artists. The name came from the Hebrew word "nabi" (prophet). The Nabis included Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, and Henri-Gabriel Ibels. They sought spiritual paths through modern doctrines, eastern philosophy, Orphism, and esotericism. Paul Gauguin's painting also influenced the group. Denis is credited with the statement that a painting "is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a particular order". He first set out this definition in his Manifeste du Mouvement Nabi (Manifesto of the Nabi Movement), published in 1890. Denis was called the ‘Nabi of beautiful icons’ because he was a devout Catholic interested in religious art. In accordance with his ideas, his works became highly decorative. He produced panels and cartoons for stained glass windows, including for Siegfried Bing’s Art Nouveau gallery and Louis Comfort Tiffany. In 1900, Denis painted Homage to Cézanne, depicting his Nabi friends in Ambroise Vollard's gallery.When did Maurice Denis live and work?
Maurice Denis was born in Granville, France, in 1870. He spent most of his life in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. Denis received his education at the Lycée Condorcet in Paris, where he encountered future members of the Nabis group, including Edouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel. He also attended the Académie Julian. In 1888, Denis, along with Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, and Henri-Gabriel Ibels, formed the Nabis, a group of artists influenced by Paul Gauguin. Denis exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1890, the same year his Manifeste du Mouvement Nabi appeared in Art et Critique. He exhibited widely outside France from 1892. His artistic output included easel paintings, large-scale decorative works, book illustrations, prints, stained glass designs, and stage sets. A devout Roman Catholic, his writings reflected his interest in religious art reform. Denis died in Paris in 1943 following a traffic accident.Where can I see Maurice Denis's work?
Maurice Denis's paintings and decorative works are held by many public museums. The Musée Maurice Denis, "The Priory", in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, is dedicated to his life and work. Denis bought the former hospital building in 1914, lived there with his family, and decorated it himself. The museum opened in 1980. Paintings by Denis are also found in other European and American museums. Examples include *Princesses* (1896) at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris; *The Green Trees* (1893) at the National Museum Wales in Cardiff; and *Noël Mystique* (1890) in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. In 1922, Denis created decorations for the chapel of the École Sainte-Croix de Neuilly. He also produced designs for stained glass.Where was Maurice Denis from?
Maurice Denis was born in Granville, France, in 1870. Although born in Normandy, he spent almost his entire life in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He received his education at the Lycée Condorcet, where he first met future members of the Nabis group, including Édouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel. He attended the Académie Julian, meeting Paul Sérusier, Pierre Bonnard, and Henri-Gabriel Ibels. Together, they formed the Nabis in 1888. Denis is regarded as the theoretician of the Nabis, whose name came from the Hebrew word for 'prophet'. In 1890, Denis exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français and published the Manifeste du Mouvement Nabi in Art et Critique. In it, he defined painting as 'a flat surface covered with colours arranged in a certain order'. Denis died in Paris in 1943, after being struck by a car.Who did Maurice Denis influence?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) is known for his role in the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who sought spiritual meaning in modern art and philosophy. Denis attended the Lycée Condorcet, where he met Édouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel. Later, at the Académie Julian, he encountered Paul Sérusier, Pierre Bonnard, and Paul Ranson; together, they formed the Nabis in 1888. The Nabis, influenced by Paul Gauguin, explored spiritual and esoteric themes. Denis articulated the group's theories in his 1890 "Manifesto of the Nabi Movement", defining a painting as a flat surface with colours arranged in a certain order. Denis's work and writings, including his collected essays *Theories, 1890-1910, Du symbolisme et de Gauguin vers un nouvel ordre classique*, impacted artistic theory. He explored the relationship between modern and traditional art, and he championed a return to classicism. He also designed stained glass, theatrical sets, and costumes.Who influenced Maurice Denis?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) received his early education at the Lycée Condorcet, where he encountered future members of the Nabis group, including Édouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel. He attended the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian; finding the former too academic, he left it. At the Académie Julian, Denis met Paul Sérusier, and together they formed the Nabis in 1888 with Pierre Bonnard and Henri-Gabriel Ibels. The name 'Nabis' came from the Hebrew word for 'prophet'. The Nabis sought spiritual paths through modern doctrines, Eastern philosophies, Orphism, and esotericism. Paul Gauguin's painting also greatly influenced the group. Sérusier, after meeting Gauguin in Brittany, shared his knowledge with the group. Denis's theories on art, as expressed in his 1890 'Manifesto of the Nabi Movement', became fundamental to modern art. He saw Paul Cézanne as seeking equivalents for his experiences of nature in patterns of colour. Denis believed tradition was a regulative and liberating force.Who was Maurice Denis?
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) was a French artist and theorist associated with the Nabis group. Born in Granville, he spent most of his life in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Denis studied at the Lycée Condorcet, where he met future Nabis Édouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel. He furthered his education at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian; at the latter, he encountered Paul Sérusier, with whom he formed the Nabis in 1888, also including Pierre Bonnard and Henri-Gabriel Ibels. The Nabis, taking their name from the Hebrew word for 'prophet', explored spirituality through modern doctrines, Eastern philosophies, Orphism, and esotericism. Denis articulated the group's principles in his 1890 'Manifesto of the Nabi Movement', defining a painting as 'a flat surface covered with colours arranged in a certain order'. He created easel paintings, large-scale decorative works, book illustrations, prints, stained glass designs, stage sets and theatrical costumes. A devout Roman Catholic, Denis later focused on religious art and wrote about its reform. He died in Paris in 1943, leaving behind a body of work marked by his spiritual and religious interests.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Maurice Denis.
- [1] museum Maison de Victor Hugo Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Museum of Fine Arts of Reims Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Musée d'Art Moderne de Fontevraud Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Centre national des arts plastiques Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] museum Musée d'art moderne (Saint-Étienne) Used for: museum holdings.
- [7] academic Maurice Denis | Post-Impressionist, Symbolist, Nabi Used for: biography.
- [8] book Brodskaya Nathalia, Brodskaya Nathalia - Symbolism Used for: biography.
- [9] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography.
- [10] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.
- [11] museum Maurice Denis, Burial in My Own Neighbourhood Used for: notable works.
- [12] museum Maurice Denis | MoMA Used for: museum holdings.
- [13] museum Maurice Denis | National Gallery of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [14] museum Maurice Denis - Springtime Used for: notable works.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-05-31. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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