The Echo of the Russian Seasons. From the Christmas Gift series
25 December 2009 - 11 April 2010

25 December 2009, within the framework of the traditional Christmas Gift series 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, Tamara Karsavina was born during productions of the Seasons.

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.

Author’s porcelain sculptures by Konstantin Somov, created at the Imperial Porcelain Factory as models for copying, took part in Paris Exhibition in 1906. Upon the order of the Factory Serafim Sud’binin created portrait sculptures of Tamara Karsavina and Anna Pavlova in 1913.

The Firebird ballet inspired many masters; sculptures by models of D. Ivanov The Ballerina Tamara Karsavina in the Role of the Firebird in The Firebird ballet (1920s), The Dancer Mikhail Fokin in the Role of Tsarevich Ivan in The Firebird ballet (1951) and of Elvira Eropkina The Firebird (1988); a cup and a saucer (shape by M. Sorokina, painting by V. Bogdanova, 2008) and the layer by N. Petrova The Firebird Ball (2008) are evidence of this.

Harlequin, Columbine and Pierrot are traditional characters of the Italian commedia dell’arte that at the beginning of the 20th century became favourite characters of works of literature, art and music; they were also used in porcelain art quite often. Columbine and Harlequin compositions (both date back to 1922) by Sergey Tchekhonin that are notable for their exquisite image elaboration; Pierrot and Harlequin (Harlequinade) dish created by the sketch of V. Masyagin (1922); and Columbine sculpture (1923) by the model of Olga Glebova-Sudejkina can be seen at the exhibition.

Ruslan and Ludmila service (shape, drawings by Sergey Tchekhonin, 1926), City of Kitezh dish (painting byvZoya Kobyletskaya, 1921) are created after the motifs of literature works or casted by creative work of Ivan Bilibin as the painting from the cup with a saucer from The Magic Humpbacked Horse service (1919) and from Sadko bowl with a lead (1922) as well as sculptures Snow Maiden (1922), Lel’ and Kupava (both 1948) are created by the models and painted by Alexandra Schekotikhina-Pototskaya.

Stage Clothes series (painting by S. Rusakova, 2009), including Curtain, Borders, Side-Scenes and Harlequin dishes, is dedicated to the topic of theatre.

The Blue God costume, created by Tatiana Tchapurgina in 2008 after the motif of Leon Bakst’s sketch for the ballet of the same name, the opening night of which took place in Paris in 1912, attracts by its singularity. The composition consists of three and a half thousand porcelain plates attached to fabric.

The exhibition is amplified with graphic art works - sketches of vases, table compositions, paintings of sculptures, plates, services and so on.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue (St Petersburg, The State Hermitage Publishing House, 2009), which includes an introductory by Anna Ivanova, the head of The Imperial Porcelain Factory Department of the State Hermitage.

Lovers
1905
Larger view

Dish Pierrot and Harlequin (Harlequinade)
1922
Larger view

Dish depicting Sirinas birds-maides
1925
Larger view

Tamara Krasavina as Firebird in The Ballet Firebird
1920-s
Larger view

Vase Fantastic Venice
1933
Larger view

Tamara Karsavina
1930-s
Larger view

The Firebird
1988
Larger view