Photograph by E.O. Hoppé of Matilda Kshesinskaya in costume for a production of Pavillon d'Armide, choreographed by Mikhail Fokine, November 1911.

Russian prima ballerina, Matilda Kshesinskaya (1972-1971) appeared with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes during its second London season in the autumn of 1911 when her repertory was Aurore et le Prince, Le Carnaval and Le Pavillon d'Armide. In the latter for which she is photographed here The Times noted 'Mme Kshesinskaya displays a technical skill which is remarkable, but she has not the personal magnetism of her predecessors, She never makes one forget that she is a prima ballerina.' For The Lady 'Kshesinskaya made an excellent impression' describing her costume: 'The skirts were the usual half-long, graceful, foamy ones of tulle, but a long overdress of brocade was laced over a front piece of silver tissue to the waist, and then was cut away sharply to the sides, forming a long and full coat-shaped back almost to the hem of her full skirts. This brocade was of a gorgeous rich cobalt-blue flowered with coloured bouquets in a branching design, and showed off her graceful, slender form to perfection. She wore ornaments of splendid sapphires set round the square decollete, and sapphires in her ears, whilst over her dark hair a turban of the same deep sapphire-blue was worn, finishing in front with a clasp of saphires, from which sprang a tall white aigrette.' Kshesinskaya's jewels were real an had been discussed in some detail in the press such as in the Daily Telegraph prior to her debut on the stage at Covent Garden.