{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1254551"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1254551/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JE1182/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JE1182/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JE1182","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1254551","accessionNumber":"S.993-2012","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"Firebird","type":""},{"title":"L'Oiseau de feu","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"Page of a sketch book showing sketches by Valentine Gross made in Théâtre de l'Opéra and Théâtre du Châtelet during rehearsal or performance depicting Karsavina in <i>Firebird,</i> Diaghilev Ballets Russes, c 1910. \n\nThe title role of the Firebird choreographed by Mikhail Fokine to Igor Stavinsky's score was created by Tamara Karsavina in Paris in 1910. These drawing give an indication of the choreography. As Karsavina noted ‘Two basic steps, grand jetés and pas de bourrées form the main fabric of the firebird’s part. Out f these Fokine worked one of his richest patterns by varying their form and by stressing the possibilities of each. Thus the illusion of flight, of fluttering, of struggling upwards of the captive bird are all expresessed in steps of one denomination: jetes.' Pas de bourree appeared while the firebird feared she was threatened by Ivan but is 'primarily used throughout the lullaby. The wings of the firebird weave the spell, nothing, therefore, must detract from the movements of the arms.' \n\r\nValentine Gross (1887 – 1968) studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris and was still a student when the Russian dancers first performed in Paris. She became a ballet enthusiast, illustrator, researcher and painter. Valentine Gross witnessed annual seasons of Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris and made preminary sketches during performances and rehearsals between 1909 and 1914 capturing te essence of the ballets. She would then work up the images into pastels which she displayed in theatre foyers and sold to Comoedia Illustré. Gross was married to the designer Jean Hugo 1919 (they later divorced) and it was a result of Richard Buckle’s friendship with Hugo that they were acquired by the V&amp;A. \r\n\r\nThe sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&amp;A Department of Theatre and Performance. Valentine Gross Archive contains research material and artwork, including sketches, studies, drawings, pastels and illustrations. Only the artwork materials have been catalogued with museum numbers and given item level descriptions found in the Explore the Collections webpage.  \n\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Sketchin blue crayon on paper, front only, detached from original sketchbook showing three images of a dancer. At the top the dancer is shown outstretched in a leap or jete. Below she is seen on point in a pas de bourree. On the left she has her arms close to her body while on the right her fluttering arms are stretched out like wings.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Valentine Gross","id":"A1811"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"blue crayon","id":"x45700"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Blue crayon on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2016JE1182"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES352280"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c 1910","earliest":"1905-01-01","latest":"1914-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"THM/165","id":"ARC64839"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by Jean Hugo via the Friends of the Museum of Performance","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Jean Hugo via Friends of the Museum of Performance","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Page of a sketch book showing sketches by Valentine Gross drawn in Théâtre de l'Opéra and Théâtre du Châtelet during rehearsal or performance depicting Karsavina in <i>Firebird,</i> Diaghilev Ballets Russes, ca 1910. Sketch by Valentine Gross.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cyril W Beaumont Impressions of the Russian Ballet: LOiseau de feu (London 1919)\r\nRichard Buckle Nijinsky on Stage (London 1971)\r\nTamara Karsavina 'Firebird' Dancing Times May 1954 p.483"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Firebird"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.993-2012"],"accessionNumberNum":"993","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2012,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Archive number","id":"THES54576"},"number":"THM/165"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2012-09-13","availableToBook":true}}