Bakst, Léon. (1866–1924). Autograph Letter mentioning Ida Rubinstein. Rare autograph letter from the Russian painter and scenery and costume designer, a member of the Diaghilev circle and the Ballets Russes, for which he designed exotic, richly coloured sets and costumes. 2 pp. 8vo. [no date, "Ce Mardi"]. Addressed "Cher comte" [Robert de Montesquiou]. In French, translated in full:
"Madame Rubinstein has alerted me that you had attempted to write me two letters at the address of the Hotel Byron; but these letters never reached me, because I have not once set foot in my studio, having obtained another on Rue Falguiere! I am very sore that those were lost and furthermore that numerous times I asked Reynaldo Hahn where you were and where you were spending the summer. He told me you were in the country and that you'd be returning in the autumn. I am happy to know that you thought of me and I wish to believe that you are not indifferent to beginning again our friendship. Believe me your very devoted and very sincere admirer, Léon Bakst."
Marie Joseph Robert Anatole, comte de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1855 - 1921) was a French aesthete, Symbolist poet, art collector and dandy. He is reputed to have been the inspiration both for des Esseintes in Joris-Karl Huysmans' "À rebours" (1884) and, most famously, for Baron de Charlus in Proust's "À la recherche du temps perdu" (1913-1927).
Ida Rubinstein was an exceptionally beautiful dancer, actress, and patron of the performing arts whose colourful career was established by her starring role in the Ballet Russe’s production of Cléopâtre which opened in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 2 June 1909. Leon Bakst designed the sets and costumes and the Comte Robert de Montesquiou apparently attended every performance of the production that season. As fellow aesthetes in search of absolute beauty Montesquiou and Rubinstein soon became very close friends.
"Madame Rubinstein has alerted me that you had attempted to write me two letters at the address of the Hotel Byron; but these letters never reached me, because I have not once set foot in my studio, having obtained another on Rue Falguiere! I am very sore that those were lost and furthermore that numerous times I asked Reynaldo Hahn where you were and where you were spending the summer. He told me you were in the country and that you'd be returning in the autumn. I am happy to know that you thought of me and I wish to believe that you are not indifferent to beginning again our friendship. Believe me your very devoted and very sincere admirer, Léon Bakst."
Marie Joseph Robert Anatole, comte de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1855 - 1921) was a French aesthete, Symbolist poet, art collector and dandy. He is reputed to have been the inspiration both for des Esseintes in Joris-Karl Huysmans' "À rebours" (1884) and, most famously, for Baron de Charlus in Proust's "À la recherche du temps perdu" (1913-1927).
Ida Rubinstein was an exceptionally beautiful dancer, actress, and patron of the performing arts whose colourful career was established by her starring role in the Ballet Russe’s production of Cléopâtre which opened in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 2 June 1909. Leon Bakst designed the sets and costumes and the Comte Robert de Montesquiou apparently attended every performance of the production that season. As fellow aesthetes in search of absolute beauty Montesquiou and Rubinstein soon became very close friends.
Bakst, Léon. (1866–1924). Autograph Letter mentioning Ida Rubinstein. Rare autograph letter from the Russian painter and scenery and costume designer, a member of the Diaghilev circle and the Ballets Russes, for which he designed exotic, richly coloured sets and costumes. 2 pp. 8vo. [no date, "Ce Mardi"]. Addressed "Cher comte" [Robert de Montesquiou]. In French, translated in full:
"Madame Rubinstein has alerted me that you had attempted to write me two letters at the address of the Hotel Byron; but these letters never reached me, because I have not once set foot in my studio, having obtained another on Rue Falguiere! I am very sore that those were lost and furthermore that numerous times I asked Reynaldo Hahn where you were and where you were spending the summer. He told me you were in the country and that you'd be returning in the autumn. I am happy to know that you thought of me and I wish to believe that you are not indifferent to beginning again our friendship. Believe me your very devoted and very sincere admirer, Léon Bakst."
Marie Joseph Robert Anatole, comte de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1855 - 1921) was a French aesthete, Symbolist poet, art collector and dandy. He is reputed to have been the inspiration both for des Esseintes in Joris-Karl Huysmans' "À rebours" (1884) and, most famously, for Baron de Charlus in Proust's "À la recherche du temps perdu" (1913-1927).
Ida Rubinstein was an exceptionally beautiful dancer, actress, and patron of the performing arts whose colourful career was established by her starring role in the Ballet Russe’s production of Cléopâtre which opened in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 2 June 1909. Leon Bakst designed the sets and costumes and the Comte Robert de Montesquiou apparently attended every performance of the production that season. As fellow aesthetes in search of absolute beauty Montesquiou and Rubinstein soon became very close friends.
"Madame Rubinstein has alerted me that you had attempted to write me two letters at the address of the Hotel Byron; but these letters never reached me, because I have not once set foot in my studio, having obtained another on Rue Falguiere! I am very sore that those were lost and furthermore that numerous times I asked Reynaldo Hahn where you were and where you were spending the summer. He told me you were in the country and that you'd be returning in the autumn. I am happy to know that you thought of me and I wish to believe that you are not indifferent to beginning again our friendship. Believe me your very devoted and very sincere admirer, Léon Bakst."
Marie Joseph Robert Anatole, comte de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1855 - 1921) was a French aesthete, Symbolist poet, art collector and dandy. He is reputed to have been the inspiration both for des Esseintes in Joris-Karl Huysmans' "À rebours" (1884) and, most famously, for Baron de Charlus in Proust's "À la recherche du temps perdu" (1913-1927).
Ida Rubinstein was an exceptionally beautiful dancer, actress, and patron of the performing arts whose colourful career was established by her starring role in the Ballet Russe’s production of Cléopâtre which opened in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 2 June 1909. Leon Bakst designed the sets and costumes and the Comte Robert de Montesquiou apparently attended every performance of the production that season. As fellow aesthetes in search of absolute beauty Montesquiou and Rubinstein soon became very close friends.