Podnesenie k Rozhdestvu: Ekho Russkikh Sezonov: Katalog Vystavki / Christmas Gift: The Echo of the Russian Seasons
Sankt Peterburg: Gos. Ermitazh, 2009. Softcover. Glossy grey illustrated wraps with white Cyrillic lettering; French flaps; 175 pp. with color illustrations throughout. NF. Item #139304
Text in Russian. Catalogue published to coincide with the 2009-10 exhibition for the traditional "Christmas Gift" series of the Hermitage Museum. The Echo of the Russian Seasons exhibition, dedicated to 100 years anniversary of The Russian Seasons of Sergey Dyagilev (1872 - 1929) in Paris, was opened. The exhibition includes over one hundred works among which there are sculptures and table compositions, vases and services, cups and plates, pipes and bottles of perfume. After grand success of the Russian artists exhibition that took place at the Autumn Salon in Paris in 1906, Sergey Dyagilev, under the patronage of the Imperial court of Russia and men of influence of high-society circles of France, began to organize the Russian Seasons - that was the name given to annual guest performances of Russian artists in Paris. Russian Historic Concerts with participation of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergey Rakhmaninov, Alexander Glazunov took place within the framework of the Seasons in 1907. Then later in 1908 the opera seasons took place, during which the French were won by the performance of Fyodor Shalyapin in Boris Godunov. In 1910 ballets were included in the repertoires, among them Scheherezade and The Firebird were of deafening success. The Russian Seasons won Paris and in the course of over twenty years kept great attention, each year they presented the results of search and new experimental forms to the audience, they surprised by variety of subjects. Fame of Leon Bakst, Nikolai Rerikh, Alexander Benua, Igor Stravinsky, Sergey Prokofiev, Mikhail Fokin, Vatslav Nizhinsky and Tamara Karsavina was born during productions of the Seasons. A stunning catalogue. Eye candy!
The Seasons of Dyagilev, the first ones in particular, played a significant role in popularization of Russian culture in Europe and promoted introduction of fashion for everything Russian.
The Russian seasons had never been presented in Russia, but their ‘echo’ was heard and reflected in works of Russian artists, and in porcelain in particular.
The exhibits of the exhibition show how the images of the Russian Seasons and the atmosphere of theatricality that had been reigning in St Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century, incarnated in articles manufactured at the Imperial Porcelain Factory and how the members of the World of Art artistic association influenced the development of porcelain art.
Price: $100.00