{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1407881"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1407881/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4611/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4611/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JY4611","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1407881","accessionNumber":"S.332-2017","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"La Tragédie de Salomé","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Photograph by Charles Gerschel (1871-1948) of the set of <i>La Tragédie de Salomé</i>, a ballet performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1913 at the theatre de Champs Elysses, Paris. It was choreographed by Boris Romanov to music by Florent Schmitt, with set and costumes designed by Serge Soudeikine.\n\nSerge Soudeikine made impressive designs in purple, black and silver with touches of orange influenced by Aubrey Beardsley. A preview in the<i> Observer </i>29 June 1913 noted that the costumes were ‘remarkably unconventional’ and his ‘curtains are symbolic. That of golden drapery, for example, typifies Salomé as a queen, and the life of Jochanaan in the desert is suggested by one on which are depicted a starry sky and winged seraphim.’ The dominant colours were gold, black, white and solferino red.\r\n\r\nThe set appears to have consisted of a series of curtains. The prelude was played with a curtain of tropical foliage which eventually parted to reveal action. For the most part there was a backdrop of ‘star-strewn blueness’ (Capell). Centre stage was a tall column on which the head of John the Baptist was seen (although the head seems to have been missing at the first London performance). Behind, initially hidden behind a cloth, was a pyramidal staircase down which Salome made her impressive entrance.\n\nA E Johnson noted that ‘In sheer theatrical effect this ballet of Salome is quite dazzling. Its bizarre decoration, and the eccentricity of the action, capture the eye, as the music captures the ear, by sheer audacity of assault. It is only when a conclusion is reached that the whole appears to have been a profitless, if dazzling diversion.’\r\n","physicalDescription":"Photograph of the set of a Ballets Russes production of <i>La Tragédie de Salomé</i>.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Gerschel, Charles","id":"AUTH345721"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photograph","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2017JY4611"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES343884"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1913","earliest":"1913-01-01","latest":"1913-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"203","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"272","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"\r\nThis photograph was published in a feature spread about <i>La Tragédie de Salomé</i> in the Paris theatre magazine <i>Comoedia Illustr</i>é, 5 July 1913, pp.906-7.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph by Gerschel of the set of <i>La Tragédie de Salomé</i>, a ballet performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1913","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.332-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"332","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-13","recordCreationDate":"2017-08-03","availableToBook":true}}