Narcisse
Theatre Costume
1911 (made)
1911 (made)
Costume for a Boeotian Girl in the 1911 ballet Narcisse, the first 'Greek'-inspired work of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Boeotia was a area of ancient Greece centred on Thebes.
Narcisse, described as a mythological poem in one act, was hurriedly mounted when Maurice Ravel had failed to complete the score for the proposed Daphnis et Chloe. Its subject matter was based on the story of Echo and Narcissus from Metamorphosis by Ovid. It focused on the beautiful Oread (mountain nymph), Echo, who fell in love with the strikingly handsome Boeotian hunter, Narcisse, a man obsessed by his own image.
Narcisse was set in a verdant glade, complete with a shrine of Pomona and a glassy pool. After woodland creatures have frolicked, Boeotian peasants and bacchantes dance and make offerings to the gods, setting the scene for the main narrative. The group dances made up the first half of the ballet.
It appears that designer Léon Bakst repurposed his original set and costumes for Daphnis et Chloe but some were also re-used in the second work in 1912. Narcisse was first performed by the Ballets Russes on 29 April 1911 at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo. It continued in the repertoire until 1917 and was revived in 1923-25.
This costume was worn by Sumarokova but it is unclear which of the sisters, Anna and Lubov Sumarokova, wore it. Both danced with the Ballets Russes, 1915-1918, and during the period of the ballet's revival.
Narcisse, described as a mythological poem in one act, was hurriedly mounted when Maurice Ravel had failed to complete the score for the proposed Daphnis et Chloe. Its subject matter was based on the story of Echo and Narcissus from Metamorphosis by Ovid. It focused on the beautiful Oread (mountain nymph), Echo, who fell in love with the strikingly handsome Boeotian hunter, Narcisse, a man obsessed by his own image.
Narcisse was set in a verdant glade, complete with a shrine of Pomona and a glassy pool. After woodland creatures have frolicked, Boeotian peasants and bacchantes dance and make offerings to the gods, setting the scene for the main narrative. The group dances made up the first half of the ballet.
It appears that designer Léon Bakst repurposed his original set and costumes for Daphnis et Chloe but some were also re-used in the second work in 1912. Narcisse was first performed by the Ballets Russes on 29 April 1911 at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo. It continued in the repertoire until 1917 and was revived in 1923-25.
This costume was worn by Sumarokova but it is unclear which of the sisters, Anna and Lubov Sumarokova, wore it. Both danced with the Ballets Russes, 1915-1918, and during the period of the ballet's revival.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Narcisse (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton, silk and metal |
| Brief description | Costume for a Boeotian Girl in Fokine's ballet Narcisse, Diaghilev Ballet, 1911 |
| Physical description | Costume for a Boeotian Girl in Fokine's ballet Narcisse, created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1911. S.607-1980 Long sleeveless Greek tunic in yellow cotton, stencilled with a leaf pattern in apple and emerald greens outlined in rust. The neckline has a band of red and appliquéd red and white checked ribbon is crossed over the bust. The tunic is gathered at the waist and two front vents run the length of the skirt, caught by two crimson-silk covered buttons from which hang short strings of 'pearls'. S.607A-1980 Openwork cap consisting of bands of wired silver fabric with an open crown of orange and emerald green fabric through which a pony-tail of hair would have flowed. |
| Credit line | Given by the Friends of the Museum of the Performing Arts |
| Object history | Having been the property of the Diaghilev and de Basil Foundation Ltd, this costume was acquired by the Museum of the Performing Arts as Lot 34 (i) at the Sotheby auction, 'Costumes and curtains from Diaghilev & de Basil ballets', on 19 December 1969 (£300 for 5 costumes from Narcisse). It was given by the Friends of the Museum of the Performing Arts to the V&A. |
| Summary | Costume for a Boeotian Girl in the 1911 ballet Narcisse, the first 'Greek'-inspired work of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Boeotia was a area of ancient Greece centred on Thebes. Narcisse, described as a mythological poem in one act, was hurriedly mounted when Maurice Ravel had failed to complete the score for the proposed Daphnis et Chloe. Its subject matter was based on the story of Echo and Narcissus from Metamorphosis by Ovid. It focused on the beautiful Oread (mountain nymph), Echo, who fell in love with the strikingly handsome Boeotian hunter, Narcisse, a man obsessed by his own image. Narcisse was set in a verdant glade, complete with a shrine of Pomona and a glassy pool. After woodland creatures have frolicked, Boeotian peasants and bacchantes dance and make offerings to the gods, setting the scene for the main narrative. The group dances made up the first half of the ballet. It appears that designer Léon Bakst repurposed his original set and costumes for Daphnis et Chloe but some were also re-used in the second work in 1912. Narcisse was first performed by the Ballets Russes on 29 April 1911 at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo. It continued in the repertoire until 1917 and was revived in 1923-25. This costume was worn by Sumarokova but it is unclear which of the sisters, Anna and Lubov Sumarokova, wore it. Both danced with the Ballets Russes, 1915-1918, and during the period of the ballet's revival. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.607&A-1980 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
