Leon Bakst (Russian, 1866?1924) Costume Design for 'Istar'

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European Art and Old Masters

By Freeman's

Feb 22, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-02-22 12:00:00 2022-02-22 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : European Art and Old Masters https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/freemans/european-art-and-old-masters-8830
Auguste Rodin’s Mère et Fille Mourante, a moving mother-and-child sculpture, leads Freeman’s February 22 European Art and Old Masters auction; the work was commissioned by Mrs. Thomas Merrill in 1908 and has remained in the family for over a century. Curated by David Weiss, Head of Sale. Freeman's info@freemansauction.com

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• Lot Description
  Leon Bakst (Russian, 1866?1924) Costume Design for 'Istar'

  Pencil signed 'BAKST' bottom right, watercolor and gouache heightened with gold and silver paint on paper
  Sheet size: 16 1/16 x 11 5/8 in. (40.8 x 29.5cm)
  Executed in 1924.

  
  
  

  Provenance

  The Artist.
  Collection of Gabriel Astruc, Paris.
  By descent in the family.
  Acquired directly from the Astruc descendents.
  Private Collection, France.

  
  
  Footnote:

  Note

  The present work will be accompanied by a copy of an original letter sent by Bakst to Gabriel Astruc, dated May 28, 1924.

  Istar was the last of Leon Bakst's productions, who never attended the final performance. Conceived as a dancing poem of twenty minutes in one act by its composer, Vincent d'Indy, it was performed just once on July 10, 1924 at the Th??tre National de l'Op?ra in Paris, in honor of the International Olympic Committee. The production starred Ida Rubinstein, a strikingly beautiful, wealthy and temperamental ballerina and actress who was also Bakst's longtime friend. It is said that Bakst's sudden and fatal illness was in fact due to the tumultuous collaboration with Ida Rubinstein over the ballet, which demanded much physical preparation work in itself, but also stimulated the lead's ego and expectations. On that note, Prince Lieben, a close friend of Bakst, recollected an exceptional fit at one of the rehearsals, during which "Bakst began shouting wild abuse to all and sundry." Bakst himself confesses in the the copy of the letter accompanying the present work: "it is the most difficult stage production of my whole artistic life". The letter speaks to Bakst's agitated state of mind in his final days, as he lists the numerous steps he has to complete before the final day, and already envisions the corrections he will have to provide. Bakst eventually died on December 27, 1924 at Rueil-Malmaison, just outside of Paris of what was medically described a failure of the kidneys, and pneumonia.

  
  
  
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