A much underestimated figure in Russian art, Leon Bakst is best known for the decorative art which he created for Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes. Fired by his love of colour, his brightly painted sets and richly coloured costumes combined extravagant designs with refined details to convey a heady atmosphere of Slavonic orientalism. This mixture of modern art with traditional Russian folk art inspired dancers and audiences alike. He became artistic director for Diaghilev in 1909, and his stage designs rapidly brought him international fame. Among his finest creations were the designs for Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty (London, 1921). Bakst also excelled at graphic art, indeed his first real success came in 1898 after he co-founded the influential "World of Art" group, sponsored by Savva Mamontov (1841-1918), and took charge of the illustration of the group's "World of Art" periodical. His exceptional talent at drawing and sketching is exemplified by his pen and ink drawing of Isadora Duncan (1908, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford).
Although less well-known than many of his contemporaries, Bakst remains one of the most influential of Russian artists, and was chiefly responsible for the visual impact of the Ballets Russes. He revolutionised the design of theatrical scenery and costumes, and ranks among the most influential modern artists of the early 20th century.
For full biographical notes on Bakst see part 1, and for earlier works, see parts 1 - 4 also.
This is part 5 of 9 on the works of Léon Bakst:
1913 Philomèle - Robe de Bakst made by Paquin
Plate 1 in Gazette du Bon Ton April 1913
colour lithograph 25.4 x 19.1cm1913 Costume design for Greek Goddess Aglaia 1913 Costume design for Madame Bartet as Bérénice
opaque and transparent watercolour, gold paint, and graphite pencil on paper 48.9 x 33.3 cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA1913 Mrs. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, in a costume by Léon Bakst
gelatin silver print 24.1 x 12.1 cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA1913-22 The Sleeping Beauty: The Princess pricks her finger on a Spinning Wheel
oil on canvas1914 Fantaisie sur le Costume, Dioné 1914 Portrait of Leonide Massine 1915 Nude Study
sanguine on paper 46 x 30.5 cm1915 Nude Study
sanguine on paper laid down on paper-fronted board 46 x 29.5 cm1915 Study for a Stage Set
pencil on paper
© The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio
1913-1922 Boris Godunov (based on the opera by Modest Mussorsky:
1913 Costume design for Marina in Boris Godunov
pencil, watercolour, and metallic paint on paper 26.7 x 21 cm
McNay Art Museum, Providence, Rhode Island1922 Costume design for a Polish Gentleman in Boris Godunov
pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper, mounted on board 48.9 x 33 cm
MaNay Art Museum, Providence, Rhode Islandn.d. Costume design for a Polish Gentleman in Boris Godunov n.d. Costume design for Three Women Dancing a Polonaise in Boris Godunov n.d. Set design for Boris Godunov n.d. Set design for Act II in Boris Godunov
charcoal, watercolour, and pastel on paper 74.9 x 101.6 cm
McNay Art Museum, Providence, Rhode Island
1913 Jeux (Games), Ballet written by Claude Debussy:
1913 Costume designs for Jeux
graphite, watercolour and black chalk on laid paper
33.5 x 49 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC1913 Jeux: Ludmilla Schollar, Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina 1913 Jeux: Ludmilla Schollar, Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina
1913 Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou (Ballet Hindu):
1913 Costume design for Anna Pavlova in the ballet Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou
pencil and watercolour on paper 30 x 23 cm
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA1913 Costume design for Anna Pavlova in Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou
graphite, watercolour and gold paint on paper 31.8 x 23.8 cm1913 Costume design for Anna Pavlova, probably as the Oriental Enchantress in the ballet Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou
pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper 46 x 26 cm
V&A, London1913 Costume design for Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou, inscribed Ballet Hindou pour A. Pavlova
(Ballet Hindu for Anna Pavlova)1913 Costume design for Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou
opaque and transparent watercolour, silver paint, and pencil on paper 31.3 x 23.9cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA1913 Costume design for Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindou
opaque and transparent watercolour, silver paint, and pencil on paper 31.2 x 23.9 cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MASet design for Oriental Fantasy: Ballet Hindu
1913 "The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst, notes on the ballets by Jean Cocteau.
50 coloured plates published by Fine Arts Society, London:
1913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst 1913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Title Page1913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst 1913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 81913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 131913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 181913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 271913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 281913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 341913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 361913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 411913 The Decorative Art of Léon Bakst
Plate No. 44
1913-1932 La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
(Pisanella of The perfumed death):
1913 Costume design for a Nestorian in act 1 of La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
graphite, watercolour and gold paint on laid paper
31.1 x 21.4 cm
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco1913 Costume design for the Queen in the prologue of La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
graphite, watercolour and gold paint on laid paper
35.7 x 24.8 cm
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco1913 Costume design for the Wife of the Blue Bird in La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
graphite, watercolour, silver and gold paint on laid paper 37.2 x 26.4 cm
Fine Arts Museums of San Franciscoc1913 Costume design for an Attendant in La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
39.5 x 26.5 cm
V&A, London1922 Costume design for Ida Rubinstein in La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
watercolour 33.3 x 20.8 cm
Fine Arts Museums of San Franciscoc1913 Costume design for an Attendant in La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
39.5 x 26.5 cm
V&A, Londonn.d. Costume design for La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée n.d. Costume design for La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée n.d. Costume design for Le Priseur (The Valuer) in La Pisanelle ou La Mort Parfumée
pencil and gouache on paper 30.5 x 20.5 cmSet design for La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée Set design for La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée Set design for La Pisanella ou la morte parfumée
1913-1914 Hullo, Tango!
1914 Costume Design for Ethel Levey in Hullo, Tango!
gouache and gold paint over pencil on paper 28 x 23.5 cm1914 Costume Design for Hullo, Tango! 1913 Costume design for an American Minstrel in Hullo Tango!
pencil and watercolour on paper 39.5 x 26-5 cm
V&A, London
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.