27 Nov 2013 Russian Art Auctions
27 November 2013
181. BAKST, LÉON (1866-1924)
Christian Woman, Costume Design for the First Act of the Musical Play "Le Martyre de saint Sébastien", signed twice, variously inscribed and titled, also further inscribed "St Sébastien" and numbered "N 251 série 13" on the reverse.
Pencil and watercolour, heightened with gold, on paper, 35.5 by 26.5 cm.
15,000–20,000 GBP
The present lot is from the set of costume and stage designs Bakst created for the mystery play Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien by Gabriele d'Annunzio, with music by Claude Debussy and choreography by Michel Fokine. It was produced by the Ida Rubinstein company and first performed on 17 June 1911 at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. The play was revived with the same credits at the Opéra national de Paris, on 17 June 1922, and the same design was possibly used in this production as well, as indicated by Bakst's signed inscription.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist's family by a previous owner.
Anonymous sale; Modern Paintings, Drawing and Sculpture; Dance, Theatre and Opera, Sotheby's New York, 10 December 1982, lot 184.
Private collection, California.
Anonymous sale; Russian Art, Sotheby's New York, 17 April 2007, lot 379.
Acquired at the above by the present owner.
Private collection, UK.
The present lot is from the set of costume and stage designs Bakst created for the mystery play Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien by Gabriele d’Annunzio, with music by Claude Debussy and choreography by Michel Fokine. It was produced by the Ida Rubinstein company and first performed on 17 June 1911 at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. The play was revived with the same credits at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra, Paris, on 17 June 1922, and the same design was possibly used in this production as well.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.