Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova

Estimate

18,000 - 25,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova
Set Design for Scene II of Shota Rustaveli
signed in Latin, inscribed Paris and dated 1943 l.r., titled l.l.
watercolour over pencil on paper
image size: 54 by 72.5cm, 21 1/4 by 28 1/2 in.

Provenance

The Collection of Serge Lifar and Lillian Ahlefeldt, Lausanne
Hôtel des Ventes de Genève, Collection Lillian Ahlefeldt & Serge Lifar, 13 March 2012, lot 570

Catalogue Note

Originally planned by Serge Lifar for the Paris Opéra with music by Arthur Honegger, Shota Rustaveli was based on the 12th century Georgian epic poem The Knight in Panther's Skin composed by the treasurer and poet at Queen Tamar's court. Owing to a disagreement, Goncharova's designs were never realised and when the ballet was eventually staged in 1946 at Monte Carlo it was with designs by Prince Shervashidze.