Marie Laurencin Pencil And Watercolour Portrait Study Of Alicia Markova In Les Biches 1925

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Marie Laurencin 1883-1956. French School 20th.Century Pencil and watercolour portrait study of Alicia Markova in Les Biches. Provenance: Arthur Haskell, Exhibited Russian Ballet Exhibition, The Claridge Gallery London March 1930. Dame Alicia Markova. Private Collection UK. Inscribed to back board "For Alicia, Drawing by Marie Laurencin for les Biches, Arnold Haskell" Mounted image 9.5 by 10.8 cms. Some yellowing and timestaining from mounting, soft horizontal crease and two pin holes to top to no real detriment. Signed lower right.

This charming little portrait of Markova serves as an original drawing for the famous ballet production Les Biches, composed by Francis Poulenc and choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Laurencin famously designed the set and costumes for the 1924 premiere. Alicia Markova 1910-2004 was one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century and the first British-born prima ballerina. She helped ensure the success of the companies that became the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet. Arnold Haskell 1903-1980 was a British dance critic who founded the Camargo Society in 1930. With Ninette De Valois, he was influential in the development of the Royal Ballet School, later becoming the school's headmaster. This drawing was a gifted by him to Dame Alicia.

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