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The first references to the Muses are found among ancient Greek poets. These were not just charming inspirers, but the daughters of Zeus. Not a single work of art was created without their participation – outstanding ideas arose not as a result of the mental process of the creator, but were bestowed by the gods from above. The Muses acted as intermediaries.
Millennia later, great works are still born thanks to the muses who inspire creators with unearthly beauty, intelligence, charm and sexuality. Which women become muses and how does sacrificial devotion to the creator end for them?
Jacqueline Rock and Pablo Picasso
The great Picasso presented the French castle of Vauvenargues to his last wife and main muse Jacqueline Rock, she also inspired him to do his best work.
In 1953, at the time of their acquaintance, the girl was not of the most noble birth, she was 26 years old, she was divorced and raised her daughter. Picasso was then 72 years old.
The artist dedicated most of the paintings to the new muse: “Jacqueline with flowers”, “Jacqueline with crossed arms”, “Nude Jacqueline in a Turkish headdress” … In total, they spent 20 years together, and 17 of them Picasso did not paint other women.
13 years after the death of the artist, Jacqueline committed suicide, unable to survive his departure. She was his main muse, and he was her idol.
Sofia Bers and Leo Tolstoy
If it were not for the wife and muse of Leo Tolstoy, we would not read War and Peace, Anna Karenina and Resurrection at school. She copied all his manuscripts, took care of the house so that the count could concentrate on philosophizing and creativity, gave birth to children (13 in 48 years of marriage) and often listened to dissatisfaction in her address.
Despite the help and dedication of his wife, Tolstoy often reproached her for her lack of spirituality. In recent years, resentment has grown into an obsession: Sofya Andreevna reread her husband’s diaries, looking for the bad that he could write about her. Nevertheless, after the death of Tolstoy, she spent 9 years publishing his diaries and, until the end of her days, listened to reproaches that she was a wife unworthy of a genius.
Jeanne Abuterne and Amadeo Modigliani
Jeanne Hebuterne was the last and main muse of Modigliani: young, fresh, in love and infinitely devoted. She did not belong to a bohemian society, although she was known as a young artist and student of the Colarossi Academy, where they met. Jeanne was a guardian angel and a muse, Modigliani devoted the largest number of canvases and drawings to her.
The day after the death of the artist, Jeanne jumped out of the window of the fifth floor
She loved Amadeo selflessly, but even for the sake of a young beautiful wife, he could not give up his addiction to alcohol and drugs. He failed to recover from chronic tuberculosis.
After three years of living with Jeanne, Amadeo Modigliani died. The day after the death of the artist, Jeanne jumped out of the window of the fifth floor. She was nine months pregnant, she was 21 years old.
Marina Vladi and Vladimir Vysotsky
Vysotsky, with his inimitable voice and boundless charm, could conquer any woman. The French movie star Marina Vlady was no exception. At the time of their acquaintance, Vysotsky was married, Vladi was divorced and raised three sons. This did not prevent them from getting married, although they did not have a real family life: Marina could not stay in Russia for a long time, and Vysotsky was not allowed to go abroad.
Marina experienced the death of Vysotsky hard: a deep depression, a suicide attempt …
Marina Vlady sacrificed a lot for her beloved: she almost left her career, saw little of her children and relatives, endured drunkenness and her husband’s explosive nature. However, she opened the world to him, showed America and Europe.
Marina experienced the death of Vysotsky hard: a deep depression, a suicide attempt … A few years later, having come to her senses, she began to write books, including the autobiographical novel “Vladimir, or an Interrupted Flight.”
Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina
Director Federico Fellini and actress Giulietta Masina lived together for 50 years and one day. They had no children: according to Fellini, films became their children. He gave her the lead roles in seven of his films, and she helped him become a great director in the golden age of cinema.
Juliet was a reliable partner, muse and helper. I organized the necessary meetings, built relationships with important people, looked for money for filming, looked after the actors, helped write scripts. It was thanks to her that Fellini’s first directorial work, the film Variety Lights, saw the light, she persuaded Marcello Mastroianni to star in La Dolce Vita.
Before the celebration of the golden wedding, Fellini was hospitalized with a stroke and died soon after. Five months later, Juliet also died, bequeathing to bury her with a photograph of her husband in her hands.