Léon Bakst, Russian 1866-1924- "Bathers on the Lido, Venice", c.1910-1912; oil on canvas,...

Léon Bakst, Russian 1866-1924- "Bathers on the Lido, Venice", c.1910-1912; oil on canvas, bears labels, one inscribed Madame Barsacq, 93x143cm

Notes

The dancing figure is traditionally held to be Vaslav Nijinsky who went on holiday with his partner Sergei Diaghilev and Léon Bakst to the Lido in Venice during the summers of 1910-1913.

Provenance

Property of Madame Barsacq of Paris, an heir of Leon Bakst

Sotheby's London, Ballet and Theatrical Material 5^th June 1975

Private Collector

Exhibited

The Fine Art Society, Léon Bakst Exhibition, 1912, no.40, 41 or 43

The Fine Art Society, Léon Bakst Memorial Exhibition, 1927, no. 80 or 81

The Fine Art Society, Bakst, December 1973- January 1974 No 110, Lent by Madame Barsacq, Paris

Further information

'Bathers on the Lido' was created by Bakst alongside three companion pieces, in the years 1910-1912, two of these companion pieces are also known under the same title, one is of a smaller format and the other is of a similar size to the example being offered which has become known as 'Popular Bathing at the Lido'. The third is a full length study of 'Nijinsky on the beach at the Lido'.

The history of these four pieces are well documented and can be traced back to The Fine Art Society in 1912 where the first English exhibition of the works of Bakst were shown.

1912 The Fine Art Society, Léon Bakst Exhibition, the complete group of four works were displayed, 'Lido, Venice-Study of Bathers (Bathers on the Lido)' no.40, 'Lido, Venice-Study of Bathers (Bathers on the Lido)' no.41, 'Portrait of M Nijinsky on the Shore of the Lido, Venice, (Nijinsky on the beach at the Lido)' no.42, 'Lido, Venice-Study of Bathers (Bathers on the Lido)' no.43

1927 The Fine Art Society, Léon Bakst, Memorial Exhibition, the piece on offer was displayed alongside its companion work of similar size, Lydo-Venise 'Les Baigneurs (huile) (Bathers on the Lido)' no. 80, Les Baigneurs (huile) (Bathers on the Lido)' no. 81

1954 The Diaghilev Exhibition from the Edinburgh Festival, two companion pieces were displayed, 'Nijinsky on the beach at the Lido' no. 503 and the smaller companion piece 'Nijinsky and other dancers at the Lido (Bathers on the Lido)' no. 504

1973-74 The Fine Art Society Exhibition December 1973-January 1974, the piece on offer 'Bathers on the Lido, Venice' no. 110, appeared alongside its companion piece of similar size 'Popular Bathing at Lido (Bathers on the Lido, Venice)' no.111

1975 Sotheby's London, Ballet and Theatrical Material 5^th June 1975, the piece on offer and its companion piece were included, lot 38 'Popular Bathing on the Lido (Bathers on the Lido)', lot 39 'Bathers on the Lido'

1976 The Fine Art Society Exhibition September 1976, two companion pieces were displayed 'Portrait of Nijinksy at the Lido (Nijinsky on the beach at the Lido)' no. 91, 'Popular Bathing on the Lido, Venice (Bathers on the Lido)' no.92

1978 Sotheby's London, Ballet and Theatrical Material 17^th May 1978, lot 53, the smaller companion piece 'Bathers on the Lido' was included

Bibliography: The Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond St, London, Leon Bakst Exhibition catalogue, 1912: Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond St, London, Leon Bakst Memorial Exhibition catalogue, 1927: Buckle, Richard, 'The Diaghilev Exhibition from the Edinburgh Festival, 1954', publ. Forbes House, Halkin St: Hislop, Richard, 'Auction Prices of 19^th Century Artists, Vol 1 A-K' publ. Art Sales Index Ltd: Levinson, Andre, 'Bakst, The Story of the Artist's Life', publ. Benjamin Blom, NY 1971: The Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond St, London, Bakst exhibition catalogue, 1973: Sotheby's 34-35 New Bond St, London W1A 2AA, Ballet and Theatre Material auction catalogue, 5^th June 1975: The Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond St, London, Bakst exhibition catalogue, 1976: Sotheby's 34-35 New Bond St, London W1A 2AA, Ballet and Theatre Material auction catalogue, 17^th May 1978: Buckle, Richard, 'The Diaghilev Ballet In England, 45^th Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Festival of Music and the Arts, October 1979'