Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois (1870-1960), Costume design for Nutcracker: 'Danse Orientale, Le Cafe I' with annotations, 1952, Black ink and watercolour over pencil, Signed 'Alexandre Benois' and dated '1952', 23cm x 15cm, (ARR) Provenance Arthur...

Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois (1870-1960), Costume design for Nutcracker: 'Danse Orientale, Le Cafe I' with annotations, 1952, Black ink and watercolour over pencil, Signed 'Alexandre Benois' and dated '1952', 23cm x 15cm, (ARR) Provenance Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd, London Footnote For similar design see Victoria & Albert Museum 'Design for the Nutcracker, in Nutcracker' by Alexandre Benois dated 1957. This drawing was made for the production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker first performed on 24 December by the Festival Ballet at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois was a significant figure in the Russian artistic scene of the early 20th century, working alongside Sergei Diaghilev and Leon Bakst to produce the magazine Mir iskusstva and its corresponding artistic movement, which sought to promote Art Nouveau within Russia. Yet it was as a designer for the Ballet Russes, under Diaghilev, for which Benois is probably best known. The present pieces, as costume designs, are therefore particularly compelling, serving as examples of Benois's most recognisable work.
This work is in wooden gilded frame with a cream mount, there is some paint loss and scuff marks to the frame. The piece has not been examined out of the frame, it may or may not be stuck down. It is evident the page is creased in areas and there are marks to the surface. The page is slightly yellowed, which is what one would expect with a piece of this age. Overall this piece is in good condition.