Not currently on display at the V&A

Print Collection

Print
ca. 1902 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Nicolai Legat (1869-1937) and his brother Sergei (1875-1905) were dancers, choreographers, teachers of ballet and caricaturists. Both worked for the Russian Imperial Ballet. Nicolai became an important teacher and after leaving the Imperial Ballet in 1914 went on to teach dance in Russia, Paris and London, where he eventually settled. Sergei, regarded as the greater choreographer and perceived as the natural successor to Pavel Gerdt as the Imperial Ballet's Premier danseur noble, committed suicide, aged 30.

The brothers worked together to produce caricatures of fellow dancers, choreographers and musicians at the Russian Imperial Ballet.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePrint Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Chromolithograph
Brief description
Caricature by Nicolai and Sergei Legat of S. Repina, ca.1902.
Physical description
Caricature of S. Repina by Nicolai and Sergei Legat. She is shown in profile turned to her right, standing on her left leg on pointe with her right leg in glissé position. She wears a short pale blue tutu, pink tights and ballet shoes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.5cm
  • Width: 23.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'S. REPINA' (Printed, lower right hand corner. The name also appears in Russian, lower left hand corner, and the artists' names are printed to the right of the figure.)
  • '27.' (Number in pencil in upper right hand corner)
Credit line
Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest
Object history
The image is taken from The Russian Ballet in Caricatures, St Petersburg, 1902-1905, a portfolio of 95 prints.
Subject depicted
Summary
Nicolai Legat (1869-1937) and his brother Sergei (1875-1905) were dancers, choreographers, teachers of ballet and caricaturists. Both worked for the Russian Imperial Ballet. Nicolai became an important teacher and after leaving the Imperial Ballet in 1914 went on to teach dance in Russia, Paris and London, where he eventually settled. Sergei, regarded as the greater choreographer and perceived as the natural successor to Pavel Gerdt as the Imperial Ballet's Premier danseur noble, committed suicide, aged 30.

The brothers worked together to produce caricatures of fellow dancers, choreographers and musicians at the Russian Imperial Ballet.
Bibliographic reference
Gregory, John. The Legat Saga - Golden Years of the Russian Ballet: the life and times of Nicolai Legat ( London: Javog Publishing Associates, 1992).
Collection
Accession number
S.3084-2010

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Record createdDecember 1, 2010
Record URL
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