Picasso props for Ballets Russes exhibition

Picasso's largest ever canvas design is to be used as one of the props for an upcoming exhibition to be held in London.

It could put most theatre sets to shame, as the cloth art work stands at an impressive 10.4 meters by 11.7 meters at the London V&A which is putting on an exhibition about a leading figure in Russian ballet and dance, Sergei Diaghilev.

This will now be one of the main props alongside Natalia Goncharova's canvas used in 1926 for the final scene of Firebird. Diaghilev also founded dance company Ballets Russes and this will also be explored throughout the exhibition which will have up to 300 props, set designs and posters on display.

Cloth paintings were often used as theatre sets at the beginning of a performance before the curtain went up and Diaghilev was a massive fan of these props.

Picasso is said to have painted the cloth for Diaghilev and the work which features two women on a Brittany beach, was apparently completed in just one night.

First used in 1924 for the Ballets Russes Paris season, it became the opening cloth for the ballet Le Train Bleu.

Speaking to the Guardian, exhibition curator Jane Pritchard explains that these pieces were generally used to add a bit of atmosphere to theatre sets and to settle the audience at the beginning of a show or production.

She said: "It was never meant to be seen for very long as it was there to establish a mood.

"The front curtain goes up, an overture is played and you what is essentially a vast painting so it wowed audiences."

The exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes 1909-1929, will open on 25 September at the V&A in London.

Picasso props for Ballets Russes exhibition

By: Nick Campbell

POST COMMENT

Is Tidysongs Fre Why Is It So Difficult For Gays To Come Out Of The Closet? Original theatre sets for National Theatre Wales How to tell if the Timeshare Transfer is Legit? Apple 9L0-062 Demo From A to Z about Cleaning Oriental Rug Putting The Spark In Your Conversation Skills Construction Building Infrastructure Create Custom Heavy Duty Cases Best Cleaning Devices For Your Pool Lanzarote Surfing 2010 Avaya 132-S-720.1 test