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COLLECTION Identifier: MS Thr 449

Constance Gladys Ripon scrapbooks concerning Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes

Overview

Three albums illustrating the early performances of the Ballets Russes company of Serge Diaghilev, compiled by Diaghiliv's early patron, the Marchioness of Ripon.

Dates

  • Creation: 1909-1914

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on physical access to this material. Collection is open for research.

Extent

4 linear feet (3 volumes)

Three scrapbook albums illustrating the early performances of Diaghilev's ballet company (1909-1914) with manuscript annotations in the hand of Lady Ripon and Serge Lifar.

The albums, which measure 72.5 cm. by 57.2 cm., contain mounted photogravures, pochoir prints, colored lithographs, printed excerpts, and clippings from Ballets Russes souvenir programs, newspapers, magazines, and the following sources:

  1. Hoppé, E. O. Studies from the Russian Ballet. London, 1913.
  2. Cocteau, J. and A. Alexandre, The Art of Leon Bakst, London, 1913.
  3. Barbier, George, Nijinsky, Paris, 1913.
  4. Barbier, George and Jean-Louis Vaudoyer, Album dedié à Tamar Karsavina, Paris, [1914].
  5. Kainer, Ludwig, Ballet Russe, Leipzig, 1913.
  6. Comoedia Illustré

Biographical / Historical

Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) was a Russian impresario, the founder, producer and artistic director of Ballets Russes. Ballets Russes appeared often in Paris, London and other European cities, and later in America. Lady Ripon was Diaghilev's earliest London patron and was largely responsible for enabling the Russian ballet company to make its London debut as part of the Coronation Gala program at Covent Garden in June 1911.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

  1. Album I
  2. Album II
  3. Album III

Physical Location

pf

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2003MT-150. Gift of Frederick R. Koch, 825 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10021; received: 1984.

Purchased at Sotheby Parke Bernet sale, 9 May 1984, lot 94.

Title
Ripon, Constance Gladys, Marchioness of, 1859-1917, compiler. Constance Gladys Ripon scrapbooks concerning Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1909-1914: Guide.
Author
Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
hou01576

Repository Details

Part of the Houghton Library Repository

Houghton Library is Harvard College's principal repository for rare books and manuscripts, archives, and more. Houghton Library's collections represent the scope of human experience from ancient Egypt to twenty-first century Cambridge. With strengths primarily in North American and European history, literature, and culture, collections range in media from printed books and handwritten manuscripts to maps, drawings and paintings, prints, posters, photographs, film and audio recordings, and digital media, as well as costumes, theater props, and a wide range of other objects. Houghton Library has historically focused on collecting the written record of European and Eurocentric North American culture, yet it holds a large and diverse number of primary sources valuable for research on the languages, culture and history of indigenous peoples of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Houghton Library’s Reading Room is free and open to all who wish to use the library’s collections.

Contact:
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Harvard University
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