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The World of Diaghilev

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Serge Diaghilev once said, ‘We must create a breakthrough, we must amaze and not be afraid to amaze, we must make our entrance all at once, display our every facet, all the merits and the shortcomings of our national identity’. Without a doubt, Diaghilev was an indomitable force not only in the export of Russian culture but in the development of 20th century art as a whole. Most well-known for the Ballets Russes but his legacy stretches far further. Having befriended Alexandre Benois and Léon Bakst he formed the literary journal, Mir Isskustva [World of Art] in 1899. Issues of the journal rarely made it into Western Europe but the artistic movement which it embodied was revolutionary.

Diaghilev was at times described as tyrannical but as Benois once said he personified the strength and the charm of his fatherland. Whether it was organising exhibitions of Russian artists, editing Mir Isskustva or creating new ballets, Diaghilev’s resounding talent was to attract a circle of gifted artists to work with him. From Russian folklore and pagan motifs with Bakst, Benois, Bilibin and Kustodiev to avant-garde designs of Goncharova, Kandinskiy and Gladky (see items 46-50).

Diaghilev promoted Russian art across the spectrum. Not only did he unlock the potential of so many but he inspired so many more, regardless of location. George Lepape and Paul Poiret (see items 31 & 32) have Diaghilev to thank for unearthing new styles that were unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. This catalogue is but a small slice of Diaghilev’s world but is testament to its creative achievements and artistic breakthroughs.

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  • The Tale of Tsarevich Ivan, The Fire-Bird and Grey Wolf.

    BILIBIN, Ivan.
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    An exceptionally fine example of this beautiful fairytale with additional English translation.This copy also includes a later English translation ...

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  • The Feather of Finist the Falcon.

    BILIBIN, Ivan.
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    A beautiful children's book, finely illustrated in colour.Tales illustrated by Bilibin are among the most famous children's books both within and ...

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  • Sovremenniy Balet. [The Modern Ballet].

    SVETLOV [IVCHENKO], Valerian.
    Original price $3,199.00 - Original price $3,199.00
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    Covering the work of Marius Petipa (Ballet Master and principal choreographer of the Imperial Ballet) and the development of the Imperial Russian ...

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  • Serge De Diaghileff's Ballet Russe. Souvenir.

    [BALLETS RUSSES].
    Original price $1,088.00 - Original price $1,088.00
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    Beautiful souvenir of the troupe's American Tour of 1916-17. Including photographs of Léonide Massine and numerous illustrations of Bakst's costum...

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  • [Saint Petersburg: Autolithographs].

    OSTROUMOVA-LEBEDEVA, Anna; Alexandre Benois.
    Original price $2,559.00 - Original price $2,559.00
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    Limited Edition. One of 400 Copies.A fresh example of this artistic record of the Russian Northern capital at a major turn in its history: just af...

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