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Costume Design for the 'Sultan Samarkand' for the Ballet 'Schéhérazade'

Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus
1919
Not on view
This drawing represents a costume study for the 'Sultan Samarkand' for the ballet 'Schéhérazade,' by Léon Bakst. First performed in Paris in 1910, it was the first original creation of the Ballets Russes, under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev. It would also prove to be one of the most successful ballets Bakst designed company. Not only did it feature star performers Vaslav Nijinki and Ida Rubinstein, but the exotic setting and colorful costumes proved a feast for the eye, described by a popular retrospective of Bakst’s work as ‘a perfect tornado of colour’. Its popularity was increased even further by the highly erotic and dramatic storyline, which caused Bakst to be labeled as an ‘erotomaniac’. The costume designs that have been preserved not only show the richness of Bakst's work, but also capture the violent and dramatic nature of the story about the sultan who killed 1,000 wives after the wedding night out of fear of infidelity.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Costume Design for the 'Sultan Samarkand' for the Ballet 'Schéhérazade'
  • Artist: Léon Bakst (Russian (born present day Belarus), Hrodna (Grodno) 1866–1924 Paris)
  • Date: 1919
  • Medium: Watercolor, graphite, and gold paint
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 11 11/16 × 5 3/4 in. (29.6 × 14.6 cm)
  • Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Sallie Blumenthal, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.787.12
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Costume Design for a Courtier, likely for the Ballet 'La Belle au Bois Dormant' (Sleeping Beauty), premiered at the Alhambra Theatre in London, 1921, Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus, Watercolor, graphite, gold paint
Costume Design for a Courtier, likely for the Ballet 'La Belle au Bois Dormant' (Sleeping Beauty), premiered at the Alhambra Theatre in London, 1921
Léon Bakst
ca. 1921
Costume Design for a Valet, likely for the Ballet 'Les Papillons', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte-Carlo, 1914, Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus, Gouache and graphite
Costume Design for a Valet, likely for the Ballet 'Les Papillons', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte-Carlo, 1914
Léon Bakst
ca. 1914
Landscape, possibly a detail of the Set Design for the Ballet 'Narcisse', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo, 1911, Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus, Gouache and graphite
Landscape, possibly a detail of the Set Design for the Ballet 'Narcisse', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo, 1911
Léon Bakst
[1911]
Design for the Set of the Ballet 'Narcisse', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo, 1911, Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus, Watercolor, gouache, and charcoal
Design for the Set of the Ballet 'Narcisse', premiered at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo, 1911
Léon Bakst
1911
Costume Design for a Eunuch in Scheherazade, Léon Bakst Russian, born present day Belarus, Gouache and graphite, heightened with gold paint
Costume Design for a Eunuch in Scheherazade
Léon Bakst
1912

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