- 97
Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin
- Costume Design for the Swan Princess in The Russian Tale
- signed with initials in Cyrillic and dated 1923 l.m and annotated l.r.
- watercolour over pencil heightened with silver on paper laid on card
- 38 by 26cm, 15 by 10 1/4 in.
Condition
The sheet has been laid on card. There is staining, discolouration and handling marks along the edges. Visible to the right of the dancer's right foot is another small stain. There are a few spots of foxing in places. Held in a painted wooden frame behind glass. Unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Bilibin befriended the legendary Anna Pavlova when she visited Cairo in 1923 on the world tour of her troupe. Bilibin often hosted the ballerina and her manager and companion Victor Dandré in his studio on Antikhana Street, and rode them out into the desert to visit the ancient temples and pyramids. It was then that Pavlova commissioned Bilibin to produce the stage and costume designs for her new one-act ballet The Russian Tale, set to Nikolay Cherepnin's music and loosely based on Alexander Pushkin's Tale of Tsar Saltan. The ballet premiered at Covent Garden in London in the same year.