Page of a sketch book showing preliminary sketches of Nijinsky and Karsavina made in Théâtre du Châtelet during rehearsals or performances of Le Spectre de la rose, Diaghilev Ballets Russes. Sketch by Valentine Gross, ca. 1911.

Diaghilev Ballets Russes Le Spectre de la rose, choreographed by Fokine and decor by Bakst was first premiered in Monte Carlo at Théâtre de Monte Carlo on 19 April 1911. Subsequently was first performed in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet on 06 June 1911, according to Diaghilev and The Golden Age of The Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, edited by Jane Pritchard, first published by V&A Publishing in 2010.

The sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Valentine Gross Archive contains research material and artwork, including sketches, studies, drawings, pastels and illustrations. Only the artwork materials have been catalogued with museum numbers and given item level descriptions found in the Search the Collections webpage.

Valentine Gross, a.k.a. Valentine Hugo, was a French art student in Paris in the 1910s. She became a ballet enthusiast, illustrator, researcher and painter. Valentine Gross witnessed annual seasons of Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris and made preminary sketches during performances and rehearsals between 1909 and 1919. She later worked them up into pencil or coloured drawings of various degrees of finish including illustrations and paintings.

Some of the sketches feature in the book Nijinsky on Stage by Richard Buckle, published in London by Studio Vista in 1971.