The Decorative Art of Leon Bakst

Arsene Alexandre, Jean Cocteau, Leon Bakst

London

:

The Fine Art Society

,

1913

.
First Edition.

41cm x 28cm. 51 pages, 77 plates (50 colour, 4 folding), photographic portrait frontispiece with facsimile signature. Half vellum, decorative papered boards, gilt and white lettering, gilt top edge.

The major monograph of Russian painter, scene and costume designer, Leon Bakst (1866-1924), the first in English, published alongside a French edition, L’Art Decorative de Leon Bakst, in the same year. Appreciation by Arsene Alexandre. Notes on the ballets by Jean Cocteau, translated from the French by Harry Melvill. This copy with an inscription by Alexander George Agar-Robartes, the son of Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes, 6th Viscount Clifden of Gowran, gifting the book to himself on his 18th birthday in 1913.

Minor insect damage and rubbing to leather. Minor handling marks. 2cm closed tear to the margin of the mounts of plates 45, 48. Very Good Condition.