Poster — Anna Pavlova poster, Paris, 1909, 1909
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1909, 1909
Poster in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number S.561-1980), made in Paris, dated 1909, 1909, attributed to Serov, Verneau, Eugène. The museum's brief description reads: Poster depicting Anna Pavlova (1882-1931) advertising the Russian Season Saison Russe at the Théatre du Chatelet, May and June 1909.
Incorporating a portrait by Velentine Serov (1865-1911) of Pavlova in Chopiniana, printed by Eugène Verneau, Paris.. Museum description: Large colour lithograph poster depicting the ballerina Anna Pavlova on pointe, on her right foot, facing left, her hands in the air, above her THEATRE DU CHATELET SAISON RUSSE OPERA ET BALLET MAI JUIN 1909 The museum records it as colour lithograph on paper, measuring Height 231.0 cm; Width 177.7 cm.
These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Large colour lithograph poster depicting the ballerina Anna Pavlova (1882-1931). She is shown en pointe, balanced on her right foot, facing left, her hands in the air. Across the top of the poster is a banner reading 'THEATRE DU CHATELET, SAISON RUSSE OPERA ET BALLET, MAI JUIN 1909'. The image is taken from Valentine Serov's painting of Pavlova in costume (a white Romantic Ballet tutu) for Chopiniana revised for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Les Sylphides which became a famous part of the repertoire of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Company. The first version of Chopiniana was a ballet in one act with choreography by Michel Fokine (1880-1942) and music by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) and was premiered on the 23rd of February 1907 at the Maryinsky Theatre, St Petersburg. Les Sylphides with new designs by Alexandre Benois was premiered on the 2nd of June 1909 by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at Théâtre du Chatelet with Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina (1885-1978) and Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950) in the principal roles. There was a companion poster for the 1909 Saison Russe including a portrait of Feodor Chaliapin. Anna Pavlova arrived late to join Diaghilev's Season Russe in 1909 as she was touring in central Europe and only danced with the Ballets Russes for two seaons 1909 Paris and 1911 London preferring to lead her own compant.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- printing ink, paper
- Dimensions
- Height 231.0 cm; Width 177.7 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- colour lithograph on paper
- Maker recorded
- Serov, Verneau, Eugène
- Place recorded
- Paris
Identification
- Museum object name
- Poster
- Museum object number
- S.561-1980
- Museum system number
- O1159670
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.