{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1404051"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1404051/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4648/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4648/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JY4648","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1404051","accessionNumber":"S.306-2017","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Zephire et Flore","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Photograph of the showing of Zéphire after he has been struck by Boreas' arrow carried off by the three bearers in the ballet <i>Zéphire et Flore</i>, presented by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1925.\r\n\r\nThis is publicity photograph, annotated for press purposes on the reverse 'NEW DIAGHILEFF BALLET AT THE COLISEUM TONIGHT'. It was issued to the press by the London Coliseum where the ballet opened on 12 November 1925. The picture shows Zephire (Constantin Tcherkas) and the three Bearers, performed in London by Karnetsky, Michaelov and Domansky. Zéphire's costume has been modified for London.\n\n<i>Zéphire et Flore</i>, choreographed by Léonide Massine, was a modern adaptation of an 18th century telling of a mythological subject that had attracted many choreographers. Boreas (god of the north wind) abducts Flore (Flora, goddess of Spring), wife of Zéphire (Zephyr, the gentle west wind) whom he shoots with an arrow during a game of blind man’s buff. The Muses bring the body of Zéphire to Flore and he is miraculously revived, the lovers are re-united and Boreas punished. \r\n\r\nBoris Kochno created an over-elaborate narrative which required simplification. His desire to give the ballet an early 19th century Russian style was only evident in the Kokoshniks worn by the Muses. Léonide Massine was invited to return to the Ballets Russes to choreograph this ballet.  He had collaborated with Braque on <i>Salade</i> for Soirées de Paris the year before. <i>Zéphire et Flore</i> was short-lived (it received 29 performances over 2 years) and was plagued by dancers’ injuries in Monte Carlo and Paris in 1925. It was well-received in London and Berlin. \r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Posed photograph showing the dead Zéphire supported by two of the three bearers, while the third bearer poses with left arm on hip and right arm held high.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photograph","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2017JY4648"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES409666"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}],[{"text":"black-and-white photographs","id":"AAT128347"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1925","earliest":"1925-01-01","latest":"1925-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":"November 1925, ahead of the London premiere"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to the Gabrielle Enthoven Collection by Albert W. King, December 1934.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph of the death of Zéphire (Constantin Tcherkas) in the ballet <i>Zéphire et Flore</i>, presented by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1925","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.306-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"306","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-23","recordCreationDate":"2017-07-10","availableToBook":true}}