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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.Leon Bakst

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

Portrait of the Artist Alexander Benois. 1898.Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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

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

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

Coppelius and Coppelia. 1900s.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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

Supper. 1902.Leon Bakst

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

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

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

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

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Portrait of Liubov Gritzenko. 1903.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Village Church. 1903-1904.Leon Bakst

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

Landscape. 1903-1904.Leon Bakst

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

Olive Grove. 1903-1904.Leon Bakst

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

Portrait of the Poet and Writer Andrey Bely. 1905.Leon Bakst

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

Vase (Self-Portrait) 1906.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Vision of Antiquity. 1906.Leon Bakst

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

Downpour. 1906.Leon Bakst

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

Portrait of Sergey Diagilev and His Nurse. 1906.Leon Bakst

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)Leon Bakst

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Delphi. 1907.Leon Bakst

Gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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

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

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)Leon Bakst

Pen, brush, Indian ink on paper.

Acacia Branch Above the Sea. 1908.Leon Bakst

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

Terror Anticuus. 1908. Decorative panel.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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

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

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

Portrait of the Dancer Anna Pavlova. 1908.Leon Bakst

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

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

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

Bathers on the Lido. 1909.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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

Portrait. 1910s.Leon Bakst

Pencil on paper.
Private collection, Paris.

Portrait of Jean Cocteau. 1911.Leon Bakst

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

Portrait. 1910s.Leon Bakst

Pencil on paper.
Private collection.

Self Portrait. 1913.Leon Bakst

Pencil on paper, 26x19 cm.
Private collection.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Portrait of Leonid Massin. 1914.Leon Bakst

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

Portrait of Mme T. 1918.Leon Bakst

Pencil on paper.

Portrait of the Dancer Ida Rubinstein. 1921.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

Theatre:

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

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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, 1909Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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)Leon Bakst

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)Leon Bakst

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)Leon Bakst

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)Leon Bakst.

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).Leon Bakst

Watercolor, gouache on paper. 
Private collection.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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)Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

Watercolor, gouache, pencil on paper.
Private collection.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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).Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Private collection.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

Watercolor, gouache on paper.
Gallery Weddington, London.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst/p>

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.Leon Bakst

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

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

Watercolor on paper.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.Leon Bakst

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.

Paintings and Graphic Work        Theatre        Biography        Top of Page