Morgan Russell

Morgan Russell 1886-1953, American painter, b. New York City. Russell, together with Stanton Macdonald-Wright , founded synchromism in Paris in 1913. Structuring his paintings on interlocking planes of color, Russell created volume and mass with color alone, as in Synchromy in Orange: To Form (1913-14).

Russell, Morgan (1886–1953). American painter, active mainly in Paris; with Stanton Macdonald-Wright he was the founder of Synchromism, one of the earliest abstract art movements. Russell was born in New York, the son of an architect. Originally he intended following his father's profession, but on a visit to Paris in 1906 he was overwhelmed by the Michelangelo sculptures he saw in the Louvre and decided to become a sculptor. After returning to New York he studied sculpture at the Art Students League and painting under Robert Henri. In 1908 he settled in Paris, where he met Gertrude and Leo Stein and through them Matisse, at whose art school he briefly studied. By 1910 Morgan was turning away from sculpture and devoting himself increasingly to painting, and in 1911 he met Macdonald-Wright, with whom he developed theories about the analogies between colours and musical patterns. In 1913 they launched Synchromism, and Russell's Synchromy in Orange: To Form (Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, 1913–14) won him considerable renown in Paris. His later work, in which he reintroduced figurative elements, was much less memorable than were his pioneering abstract paintings. From about 1930 much of his work consisted of large religious pictures. He lived in Paris until 1946, then returned to the USA.

Russell, Morgan (b New York, 25 Jan. 1886; d Broomall, Pa., 29 May 1953). American painter, active mainly in Paris, a pioneer of abstract art. He was born in New York, where he studied sculpture at the Art Students League and painting under Robert Henri. In 1908 he settled in Paris, where he briefly attended Matisse's art school. By 1910 he was devoting himself increasingly to painting, and in 1911 he met Stanton Macdonald-Wright, with whom he developed theories about the analogies between colours and musical patterns. In 1913 they launched Synchromism, one of the earliest abstract movements, and Russell's Synchromy in Orange: To Form (1913–14, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo) won him considerable renown in Paris. His later work, in which he reintroduced figurative elements, was much less memorable. He lived in Paris until 1946, then returned to the USA.