I wasnt sure what to expect at the V&A but having done numerous drawings from Le Train Bleu and the Firebird (two of Diaghilevs famous productions) it was a real treat.
A comprehensive exhibition that showed in great detail just how much goes into producing a ballet. When Diaghilev formed the Ballets Russes he was actually creating the conception of how a ballet would come together which is how we now see them today. Costumes, posters, very old clips of film, explanations of choreography and music plus lots of drawings made it an all round experience. I did stood and sketch quite a few drawings from Valentine Gross who was employed to draw dancers and their movements. Due to the lack of photography in the early days posters and drawings were used a lot so it was fascinating for me. The last two rooms in the exhibition were the best for me. Two huge opening curtains occupied a very large room, one was from the Firebird and the other the infamous front cloth from the ballet Le Train Bleu. This curtain was painted by Prince Alexander Schervachidze from a gouache by Pablo Picasso called 'Women Running on the Beach' measuring a whopping 6.78 x 8m!
A comprehensive exhibition that showed in great detail just how much goes into producing a ballet. When Diaghilev formed the Ballets Russes he was actually creating the conception of how a ballet would come together which is how we now see them today. Costumes, posters, very old clips of film, explanations of choreography and music plus lots of drawings made it an all round experience. I did stood and sketch quite a few drawings from Valentine Gross who was employed to draw dancers and their movements. Due to the lack of photography in the early days posters and drawings were used a lot so it was fascinating for me. The last two rooms in the exhibition were the best for me. Two huge opening curtains occupied a very large room, one was from the Firebird and the other the infamous front cloth from the ballet Le Train Bleu. This curtain was painted by Prince Alexander Schervachidze from a gouache by Pablo Picasso called 'Women Running on the Beach' measuring a whopping 6.78 x 8m!
There was also a fantastic video piece on a huge wall of the Firebird dancing frantically, it was mesmerising. I bought a couple of postcards in the shop but wished that my cards from Le Train Bleu were on sale there - see left for one of them or for more of them see my website.
I then went on to see my friend Fran exhibiting at the Palace Art Fair at the Fulham Palace. A super setting and a wide range of work, also recommended (finishes Sunday 10 Oct). So all fired up and ready to paint!
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