Theatre Costume
1919 (Designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume for one of four daughters of the Russian Merchant in La Boutique fantasque, designed by André Derain in 1919. Green silk pinafore, hand-painted with short black horizontal lines suggestive of ruching, with wide rust-maroon border at the hem of the skirt, cap sleeves, bib and belt. The bib and belt are decorated with black velvet ribbons. A white cotton blouse with ruffled lace at the neck is worn under the pinafore. The costume was worn with a natural straw hat with a square crown and upturned brim, decorated with a black and white ostrich feather. The costumes for the Russian Merchant's daughters have been described as traditional Polish dresses.
La Boutique fantasque was a light-hearted a ballet in one act, choreographed by Léonide Massine to music by Giacomo Rossini arranged and orchestrated by Ottorino Respighi. The production was designed by André Derain with the sets painted by Vladimir and Elizabeth Polunin and the costumes made by Alias Ltd. It was created for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and first performed at the Alhambra, Leicester Square, London, on 5 June 1919, where it was a terrific hit. As one critic wrote after the premiere, in La Boutique fantasque ‘the old and the reactionary and the new music and “choreography” and décor all run together into a piece of merry nonsense, so single and so compelling that it carries you away.’
The action of the ballet is set in a toy-shop, ca.1865. Clients visit to see the novelties and a pair of can-can dancers are separated when purchased by different clients. The male dancer is bought by an American family, and the female dancer is chosen by a Russian family. The purchasers arrange to collect the dolls on the following day. At night, after the shop has closed, the toys come to life and enable the can-can dancers to elope. In the morning they are found to be missing by the disgruntled purchasers. Le Boutique fantasque was one of a number of ballets based on the Viennese Die Puppenfee (The Fairy Doll), a ballet of 1888.
The four daughters were originally danced by Nemtchinova, Zalevska, Potapovitch and Mascagno.
La Boutique fantasque was a light-hearted a ballet in one act, choreographed by Léonide Massine to music by Giacomo Rossini arranged and orchestrated by Ottorino Respighi. The production was designed by André Derain with the sets painted by Vladimir and Elizabeth Polunin and the costumes made by Alias Ltd. It was created for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and first performed at the Alhambra, Leicester Square, London, on 5 June 1919, where it was a terrific hit. As one critic wrote after the premiere, in La Boutique fantasque ‘the old and the reactionary and the new music and “choreography” and décor all run together into a piece of merry nonsense, so single and so compelling that it carries you away.’
The action of the ballet is set in a toy-shop, ca.1865. Clients visit to see the novelties and a pair of can-can dancers are separated when purchased by different clients. The male dancer is bought by an American family, and the female dancer is chosen by a Russian family. The purchasers arrange to collect the dolls on the following day. At night, after the shop has closed, the toys come to life and enable the can-can dancers to elope. In the morning they are found to be missing by the disgruntled purchasers. Le Boutique fantasque was one of a number of ballets based on the Viennese Die Puppenfee (The Fairy Doll), a ballet of 1888.
The four daughters were originally danced by Nemtchinova, Zalevska, Potapovitch and Mascagno.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Rayon, cotton velvet, mother of pearl buttons, cotton tarleton |
| Brief description | Costume designed by Andre Derain for one of four Daughters of the Russian Merchant in Leonide Massine's ballet La Boutique fantasque created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1919. |
| Physical description | Green silk pinafore hand-painted with painted short black horizontal lines suggestive of ruching with wide rust-maroon border at the hem of the skirt, cap sleeves, bib and belt. The bib and belt laticed with black velvet ribbons. White cotton blouse with ruffled lace at neck worn under the pinafore. |
| Dimensions |
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| Literary reference | La Boutique Fantasque |
| Summary | Costume for one of four daughters of the Russian Merchant in La Boutique fantasque, designed by André Derain in 1919. Green silk pinafore, hand-painted with short black horizontal lines suggestive of ruching, with wide rust-maroon border at the hem of the skirt, cap sleeves, bib and belt. The bib and belt are decorated with black velvet ribbons. A white cotton blouse with ruffled lace at the neck is worn under the pinafore. The costume was worn with a natural straw hat with a square crown and upturned brim, decorated with a black and white ostrich feather. The costumes for the Russian Merchant's daughters have been described as traditional Polish dresses. La Boutique fantasque was a light-hearted a ballet in one act, choreographed by Léonide Massine to music by Giacomo Rossini arranged and orchestrated by Ottorino Respighi. The production was designed by André Derain with the sets painted by Vladimir and Elizabeth Polunin and the costumes made by Alias Ltd. It was created for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and first performed at the Alhambra, Leicester Square, London, on 5 June 1919, where it was a terrific hit. As one critic wrote after the premiere, in La Boutique fantasque ‘the old and the reactionary and the new music and “choreography” and décor all run together into a piece of merry nonsense, so single and so compelling that it carries you away.’ The action of the ballet is set in a toy-shop, ca.1865. Clients visit to see the novelties and a pair of can-can dancers are separated when purchased by different clients. The male dancer is bought by an American family, and the female dancer is chosen by a Russian family. The purchasers arrange to collect the dolls on the following day. At night, after the shop has closed, the toys come to life and enable the can-can dancers to elope. In the morning they are found to be missing by the disgruntled purchasers. Le Boutique fantasque was one of a number of ballets based on the Viennese Die Puppenfee (The Fairy Doll), a ballet of 1888. The four daughters were originally danced by Nemtchinova, Zalevska, Potapovitch and Mascagno. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.118-1981 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
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