Leon BAKST (Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg)

Born 1866, Grodno - Died 1924, Paris

Painter, graphic artist and theatre designer

Paintings and Graphic Work Theatre Biography

Paintings and Graphic Work

Self Portrait. 1893.

Oil on canvas, 34x21 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait of the Artist Alexander Benois. 1898.

Watercolor and pastel on paper mounted on cardboard. 864.5x100.3 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait of the Artist Isaac Levitan. 1899. (Journal "World of Art", 1899, N6).

Lithography, 20x15.5 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait of the Artist Philip Maliavin. 1899. (Journal "World of Art", 1899, N23/24).

Lithography, 32x23 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Coppelius and Coppelia. 1900s.

Oil on canvas. 83x65 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St Petersburg.

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Elizaveta Petrovna Hunting. 1902. (The Daughter of tsar Peter I)

Gouache on paper. 17.5x15 cm.
Private collection, Moscow.

Supper. 1902.

Oil on canvas, 150x100 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Cover for "Mir Iskusstva". 1902. ("The World of Art" St.Petersburg, 1902)

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Cover for "The Russian Bookplates" by Vassily Vereschagin. 1900s. (St Petersburg, 1902)

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Portrait of Liubov Gritzenko. 1903.

Oil on canvas, 142.5x101,5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

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Village Church. 1903-1904.

Oil on canvas, 48x39 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Landscape. 1903-1904.

Oil on canvas, 61x88,5 cm.
The I.Brodsky Museum, St Petersburg.

Olive Grove. 1903-1904.

Oil on canvas, 123x124 cm.
Novgorod Museum of History, Architecture and Art.

Portrait of the Poet and Writer Andrey Bely. 1905.

Watercolor and pastel on paper mounted on cardboard, 64.5x100.3 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Vase (Self-Portrait) 1906.

Gouache and watercolor on paper mounted on cardboard. 113x71.3 cm.
Private collection, St.Petersburg.

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Vision of Antiquity. 1906.

Pen, Indian ink on paper. 16.1x17.9 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Downpour. 1906.

Gouache and Indian ink on paper. 15.9x13.3 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait of Sergey Diagilev and His Nurse. 1906.

Oil on canvas, 161x116 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

The Bell's Peal. 1906. In Memory of Borissov-Mussatov. (Drawing for the Journal "Golden Fleece" 1906, N3)

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Delphi. 1907.

Gouache on paper.
Private collection.

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Portrait of the Composer Mily Balakirev. 1908. (For the program of "Five Historical Russian Concerts in Paris")

Pencil on paper, 28.6x21.8 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Isadora Duncan Dancing. 1907. (Newspaper "Birzhevye Vedomosti" / Stock Exchange News, 12 December 1907)

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper. 48.9x33.3 cm.
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Snow mask. 1907. Frontispiece for the collection of poems by Alexander Block (St.Petersburg, 1907)

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Acacia Branch Above the Sea. 1908.

Oil on cardboard, 48.5x69 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Terror Anticuus. 1908. Decorative panel.

Oil on canvas, 250x270 cm.
The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

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Portrait of the Artist Alexander Golovin. 1908. (For the program of the Paris production of the opera "Boris Godunov" by Modest Mussorgsky)

Pencil on paper, 31.5x22 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait of the Artist's Son Andriusha Bakst. 1908.

Watercolor, gouache and whitening on paper mounted on cardboard, 45.5x59.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Portrait of the Dancer Anna Pavlova. 1908.

Pencil on paper, 23.5x17.5 cm.
Private collection, Moscow.

Zeus the Thunderer. 1908. Cover for the journal "Satyricon" (1908, N1)

Pen, brush, Indian ink, watercolor on paper, 23.5x17.5 cm.

Bathers on the Lido. 1909.

Oil on canvas, 18.5x26.7 cm.
Private collection.

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Portrait of the Writer Alexei Tolstoy. 1909. (Journal "Apollon", 1909,N3)

Lithography, 20x19.3 cm.
The Russian Museum, St Petersburg.

Portrait. 1910s.

Pencil on paper.
Private collection, Paris.

Portrait of Jean Cocteau. 1911.

Pencil on paper, 31x20 cm.
Private collection, Paris.

Portrait. 1910s.

Pencil on paper.
Private collection.

Self Portrait. 1913.

Pencil on paper, 26x19 cm.
Private collection.

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Portrait of Leonid Massin. 1914.

Pencil on paper, 38.1x25.4 cm.
Private collection, San Antonio.

Portrait of Mme T. 1918.

Pencil on paper.

Portrait of the Dancer Ida Rubinstein. 1921.

Watercolor, gouache, charcoal on paper mounted on cardboard. 128.9x68.8 cm.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

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Theatre:

China Doll. 1903. Costume sketch for the ballet "Die Puppenfee", music by Josef Bayer.

Pencil, watercolor, gouache and whitening on cardboard, 25x17.2 cm.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

Negro Doll. 1903.Costume sketch for the ballet "Die Puppenfee", music by Josef Bayer.

Pencil, watercolor, gouache and whitening on paper, 37.1x26 cm.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.

French Doll. 1903.Costume sketch for the ballet "Die Puppenfee", music by Josef Bayer.

Watercolor, gouache, golden paint, Italian pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 39.1x28.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Elysium. 1906. Curtain version for the theatre of V.Komissarzhevskaya, St.Petersburg.

Watercolor, gouache, golden paint, Italian pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 39.1x28.5 cm.
The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Setdesign for ballet "Cleopatra". 1909.Music by A.Arensky, N.Cherepnin, A.Glazunov, M.Glinka, N.Rimsky-Korsakov, S.Taneyev. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev. First performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét, 1909

Watercolor, gouache on paper, 21x29.5 cm. New York,
Museum of Modern Art, USA.

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Cleopatra. 1909. Costume sketch for the ballet "Cleopatra" (for Ida Rubinstein), music by A.Arensky and other Russian composers. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev (Theatre du Châtelét, Paris, 1909)

Watercolor, gouache on paper, 34x24 cm.
Collection of Nikita & Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, London.

Syrian Harper. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Cleopatra", music by A.Arensky and other Russian composers. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev (Theatre du Châtelét, Paris, 1909)

Watercolor on paper, 33.2x24 cm.
Collection of Nikita & Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, London.

Jewish Dance With Tambourine. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Cleopatra", music by A.Arensky and other Russian composers. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev (Theatre du Châtelét, Paris, 1909)

Gouache, pencil, golden paint on paper, 34x24 cm.
Collection of Nikita & Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, London.

Set design for ballet "Schékhérazade". 1910.Music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev (National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Oil on canvas, 110x130 cm.
Collection of Nikita & Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, London.

The Red Sultana. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Schékhérazade", music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev (National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Private collection.

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The Silver Negro. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Schékhérazade", music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Watercolor, silver paint on paper.
Private collection.

The Chief Eunuch. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Schékhérazade", music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev (National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Watercolor, golden paint on paper. Strasbourg,
Museum of Fine Art, France.

The Odalisque. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Schékhérazade", music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev (National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Watercolor, golden paint on paper.
Private collection.

The Odalisque. 1910.Costume sketch for the ballet "Schékhérazade", music by N.Rimsky-Korsakov. Choreography by M.Fokin, enterprise of S.Diagilev (National Theatre, Paris, 1910)

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Ephebus. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Narcisse", scenario by L.Baxt, music by N.Cherepnine. Choreography by M.Fokin, was first performed by Diagilev's Ballets Russes at Monte Carlo in April 1911.

Watercolor, gouache, pencil on paper.
Private collection.

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Beotian Girl (Bacchante). 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Narcisse", scenario by L.Baxt, music by N.Cherepnine. Choreography by M.Fokin, was first performed by Diagilev's Ballets Russes at Monte Carlo in April 1911.

Watercolor, gouache, pencil, golden paint on paper.
Strasbourg Museum of Fine Art, France.

Two Beotian Girls. 1911. Costume sketch for the ballet "Narcisse", scenario by L.Baxt, music by N.Cherepnine. Choreography by M.Fokin, was first performed by Diagilev's Ballets Russes at Monte Carlo in April 1911.

Watercolor, gouache, pencil, golden and silver paints on paper.
Private collection.

Écho Abandonnée. 1911. Repeated in 1922. Costume sketch for the ballet "Narcisse", scenario by L.Baxt, music by N.Cherepnine. Choreography by M.Fokin, was first performed by Diagilev's Ballets Russes at Monte Carlo in April 1911.

Watercolor and pencil on paper. 66x48,2 cm.
Private collection.

Set design for ballet "The Blue God". 1911. Music by Reynaldo Hahn. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev. First performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét, 1912.

Watercolor, gouache on paper, 55.8x78 cm.
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

The Blue God. 1911. Costume sketch for ballet "The Blue God". 1911. Music by Reynaldo Hahn. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev. First performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét, 1912.

Watercolor, gouache and golden paint on paper.
Private collection.

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Bayadére with Peacock. 1911. Costume sketch for ballet "The Blue God". 1911. Music by Reynaldo Hahn. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev. First performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét, 1912.

Watercolor, gouache and golden paint on paper, 58.2x43 cm.
Private collection.

Set design for Act IV of mystery " Le Martire de St.Sébastien" by Gabriele d'Annunzio. 1911. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 94x122 cm.
Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris.

St.Sébastien. 1911. Costume sketch for mystery " Le Martire de St.Sébastien" by Gabriele d'Annunzio. 1911. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Pencil, watercolor and gouache on paper, 44.5x25.5 cm.
Private collection.

Peri (for N.Trukhanova). 1911. Costume sketch for ballet "Peri", music by Paul Ducas. Enterprise of S.Diagilev (not executed).

Hand colored lithography.
New York, Museum Metropolitan, USA. Collection of Nikita & Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, London.

Iskander. 1911. Costume sketch for ballet "Peri", music by Paul Ducas. Enterprise of S.Diagilev (not executed).

Watercolor, gouache and golden paint on paper.
New York, Museum Metropolitan, USA.

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Set design for Act II of ballet "Daphnis and Chloë". 1912. Music by Maurice Ravel. Russian Seasons in Paris, enterprise of S.Diagilev, season 1912.

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 94x122 cm.
Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris.

Set design for Scene II of ballet "Daphnis and Chloë". 1912.Music by Maurice Ravel. Russian Seasons in Paris, enterprise of S.Diagilev, season 1912.

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 55x57 cm.
Musiée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris.

Nymph. 1912.Costume sketch for ballet "Daphnis and Chloë". Music by Maurice Ravel. Russian Seasons in Paris, season 1912.

Watercolor and gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Set design for Act I and III of "Helene of Sparta". 1912.Play "Helene of Sparta" by Emile Verhaeren. Russian Seasons in Paris, season 1912.

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 55.5x57 cm.
Galleria del Levante, Milan.

Helene. 1912. Costume sketch for play "Helene of Sparta" by Emile Verhaeren. Russian Seasons in Paris, season 1912.

Watercolor, pencil, silver paint on paper, 27.5x21 cm.
Private collection.

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Set design for ballet "Thamar". 1912. Music by M.Balakirev. Enterprise of S.Diagilev, first performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét in May 1912.

Watercolor on paper, 74x86 cm.
The Museum of Decorative Art, Paris.

Thamar. 1912. Costume sketch for ballet "Thamar". Music by M.Balakirev. Scenario by L.Baxt after poem by M.Lermontov "The Demon". First performed in Paris, Theatre du Châtelét in May 1912.

Watercolor over pencil on paper.
Private collection.

Set design for ballet "L'Aprés-midi d'un Faune". 1912. Music by Claude Debussy. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Gouache on paper.
The National Museum of Moderne Art, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

Faun. 1912. Costume sketch for ballet "L'Aprés-midi d'un Faune" (for V.Nizhinsky). Music by Claude Debussy. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, gouache, golden paint on paper mounted on cardboard. 39.9x27.2 cm.
Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford.

Nymph. 1912.Costume sketch for ballet "Aprés-midi d'un Faune". Music by Claude Debussy. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Private collection.

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Set design for "Salome". 1912. Play by Oscar Wilde. Russian Seasons in Paris, season 1912.

Watercolor on paper, 45.9x62.5 cm.
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

The Firebird. 1913. Costume sketch for the ballet "L'Oiseau de Feu", music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, pencil, silver and golden paint on paper, 58.5x49 cm.
New York, Museum of Modern Art, USA.

Tzarevich Ivan. 1913.Costume sketch for the ballet "L'Oiseau de Feu", music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, and gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Tzarevna. 1913. Costume sketch for the ballet "L'Oiseau de Feu", music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, pencil on paper, 35.5x22.1 cm.
Theatrical Museum, St.Petersburg.

Girl in Lilac. 1914. Costume sketch for ballet "Butterflies", music by Robert Schumann. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Gallery Weddington, London.

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Girl in Yellow. 1914. Costume sketch for ballet"Butterflies", music by Robert Schumann. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Potiphar. 1914. Costume sketch for the mime-drama "The Legend of Josef", music by Richard Strauss. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Pencil, watercolor, golden paint on paper,31.2x22.8 cm.
Private collection.

Potiphar's Wife. 1914. Costume sketch for the mime-drama "The Legend of Josef", music by Richard Strauss. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Pencil, watercolor, golden paint on paper, 31.2x22.8 cm.
Private collection.

The Negro. 1914.Costume sketch for the ballet "The Legend of Josef", music by Richard Strauss. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Pencil, watercolor, golden paint on paper.
Private collection.

The Guest. 1914. Costume sketch for the ballet "The Legend of Josef", music by Richard Strauss. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Pencil, watercolor, golden paint on paper.
Private collection.

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Set design for choreographic comedy "Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur". 1917. Music by D.Scarlatti after C.Goldoni's comedy. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor on paper.

Constance. 1916. Costume sketch for choreographic comedy "Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur". Music by D.Scarlatti after C.Goldoni's comedy. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor on paper.

Marquis de Luca. 1916. Costume sketch for choreographic comedy "Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur". Music by D.Scarlatti after C.Goldoni's comedy. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Gouache and pencil on paper.
Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford.

Battista. 1917. Costume sketch for choreographic comedy "Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur". Music by D.Scarlatti after C.Goldoni's comedy. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor on paper.

A Musician. 1917. Costume sketch for choreographic comedy "Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur". Music by D.Scarlatti after C.Goldoni's comedy. Choreography by M.Fokin. Enterprise of S.Diagilev.

Watercolor on paper.

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The Scene of Wedding. 1921. Set design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty", ballet by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky. Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor on paper.
Private collection.

The Countess. 1921. Costume design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty", ballet by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky. Performed first at the Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor, gouache and golden paint on paper.
Private collection.

Galisson. 1921. Costume design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty", ballet by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky. Performed first at the Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor on paper, 49x33 cm.
Private collection, Paris.

The Indian Bridegroom. 1921. Costume design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky., Performed first at the Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor, pencil, gouache and silver paint on paper, 67,3x48,8 cm.

The Wolf. 1921. Costume design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky. Performed first at the Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor, gouache, pencil, silver and golden paint on paper, 48.5x33 cm.
Galleria del Levante, Milan, Italy.

The Negro. 1921. Costume design for ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" by P.Chaikovsky, orchestration by I.Stravinsky. Performed first at the Theatre Alhambra, London, November 1921.

Watercolor, pencil, gouache and silver paint on paper.

Paintings and Graphic Work Theatre Biography Top of Page

Biography:

Baxt has studied as a free student at the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg, under P.Chistiakov and K.Venig (1883-1887), at the studio of J.-L.Jerome in Paris (1893-1896) and at the Academy of R.Julian, under A.Edelfelte.

He has visited Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, in 1891 traveled to Italy, in 1897 - North Africa, 1907 - Greece.

The artist has taught at the drawing and painting School of E.Zvantseva, St. Petersburg (1906-1909).

Baxt was one of the members and organizers of the World of Art group (1899-1903). A member for life of Salon d'Automne.

From 1891 to 1897 the artist has participated in exhibitions of the Society of Russian Watercolor-artists, then later from 1903 to 1910 - of the Union of Russian Artists.

He was awarded the Academician title in 1914.

Baxt was one of the head designers of Diagilev's ballet enterprise. He designed decor for performances in Mariinsky and Alexandrinsky Theatres in St. Petersburg, Grand-Opera in Paris, Ida Rubinstein's ballet company and other Theatres in Europe.

From 1909 the artist has lived and worked in Paris.