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Terror Antiquus painting by ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst from
Top 10 Incredible Facts about ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst was a Russian painter and costume designer of Jewish origin. He was a member of the Sergei Diaghilev circles and Ballets Russes for which he designed exotic colored sets and costumes. Moreover, he is famous for the décor of productions like the 1910 Carnaval, The Sleeping Princess of 1921, and many more.
Here are the top 10 interesting truths about ³¢Ã©´Ç²ÔBakst.
1. ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst’s parent’s opposed his drawing talent in his early childhood
Rozanov portrait by ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst from
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô was born in Grodno in a middle-class Jewish family. His grandfather was an excellent tailor which gave him good financial standing enabling him to get a house in Saint Petersburg.
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô‘s parents moved to the city but he often visited his grandfather over the weekend. Bakst was fascinated by his grandfather’s house thus he enjoyed spending time there.
He started drawing at the age of 12 and by that time, he also joined a drawing competition. He won the contest however, his parents were not supportive of his drawing career to the point they threw away his paints.
2. ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst started painting to boost his family’s finances
Bathers on the Lido by ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst from
His parents divorced when ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô was still young. Subsequently, they started new families making it difficult for them to live with their parents. Therefore, he and his siblings decided to separate from their parents and rent their own house.
As the eldest sibling, he was in charge of his two sisters and brother. Thus, he had to do some painting work to support his siblings.
3. ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô majored in arts
After he was done with his gymnasium (high school) studies he proceeded to the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts as a non-credit student. This was because he failed the entry.
Furthermore, during the time he was studying and working part-time as a book illustrator. This was his doorway into the Imperial Academy in 1883.
4. The origin of his name is a mystery
He considered the surname Bakst during his first exhibition. This was after three versions of alteration. His grandmother’s maiden name was Bakster. He got the name ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô from his long friend Alexander.
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst at some time while explaining the origin of his artist name gave a rather confusing narrative. But to wrap up the whole story he explained it had roots in some distant relatives.
5. ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst began his career as a watercolorist
In 1890 ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô began exhibiting his work with the Society of Watercolourists. He later joined the circle of writers and artists formed by Sergei Diaghilev and Benois who founded an influential publication called the World of Art. Leon did graphics for the World of Art publication which brought him fame.
6. It took him 8 years to do a painting of Admiral Avellan and the Russian sailors
Carnival in Â鶹APP in Honour of the Russian Navy by ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst from
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô worked on paintings of Filipp Malyayin in 1899, Vasily Rozanoy in1901, and Zinaida Gippius in 1906. Additionally, he taught arts to the children of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia.
In 1893, Tsar Nicholas II gave him the job to paint Admiral Avellan and the Russian sailors arriving in Â鶹APP during a celebration between 17 to 25 October 1893. He began the masterpiece during the event. Yet it took him 8 years to complete the work.
He later started exhibiting his creations on the Diaghilev in 1898. This was the first version of the Diaghilev for Russian and Finnish Artists. He also showcased his talent in the World of Art and Munich Secession shows which were set up by the Union of Russian artists.
7. He worked as a stage designer
Starting in 1909, ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô worked as a stage designer. He designed sets for Greek tragedies at the time. He gained popularity as a scene-painter because of his Ballets Russes good work.
Subsequently producing scenery for Cleopatra in 1909, Scheherazade in 1910, and Carnaval in 1910. He also worked on Narcisse in 1911 and many other sets that year. At the time, ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô was living in Western Europe because as a Jew he did not have the right to a permanent residence outside the Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire.
8. He committed to arts until his success
The Sleeping Beauty by ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst from
Despite working as a stage designer, he was committed to working the arts for various English families. This was a chance for him to produce work such as the Sleeping beauty series. The assignment was given to him by James and Dorothy de Rothschild at Waddesdon Manor in 1913. The opportunity led to his election as a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts.
9. ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst was also a fashion and interior designer
As a clothes designer, he set decorations and interior textiles. He also did a series of interior designs for the prestigious Rothschild family. Moreover, he designed the exhibition for Mir Iskussrva society and doubled as a furniture and interior designer at the Sovremennoe Iskusstvo.
In addition, an American business silk industry invited him to make textile designs. Their collaboration had great success.
Further, ³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô was a prolific writer. His legacy of literature included proficiency in three languages, novels, many publications in magazines, critic essays, and letters to friends and colleagues.
10. He had a favorite student when he worked as a trainer
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô while teaching at Saint Petersburg school was captivated by the uniqueness of one of his trainees. Marc Chagall was the name of the student.
Bakst described him as his favorite because when he told him something he would be attentive to listen. Then he would take his brush and do something completely different from the task allocated. Chagall went on to triumph as a modernist artist.
³¢Ã©´Ç²Ô Bakst is a celebrated personality in the space of art. He died on December 1924 in a clinic in Rueil Malmaison in Â鶹APP from lung complications. His heritage lives on throughout generations.
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