{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1408216"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1408216/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4907/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JY4907/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JY4907","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1408216/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1408216","accessionNumber":"S.513-2017","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Mercure","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Posed photograph taken in stage at the Princes Theatre, London, by Sasha of Vera Petrova (Venus) leaning back into the arms of Apollo (Boris Lissanevitch)  in a pose apparently  from the Love Dance of Venus and Apollon in &lt;i&gt;Mercure&lt;/i&gt;, performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1927. The ballet was choreographed by Leonide Massine to music by Erik Satie, with set and costume design by Pablo Picasso. It had been created for Etienne de Beaumont's Soiree de Paris and acquired by Diaghilev for a programme in tribute to composer Erik Satie. The Love Dance was a key element of Mercure's first tableau described in the programme's synopsis: 'Night set the scene for the loves of Apollo and Venus. The Signs of the Zodiac surround them. Mercury comes upon them and, out of jealousy, cuts the thread of Apollo's life, only to restore him within a moment by means of his magical powers.'\nThe costumes worn by the gods are 1920s interpretations of classical Greek dress, as The Times noted 'Half the gods of Greece appeared on stage, but we doubt if any would have recognised himself, except Mercury.' Venus' costume combines elements of a 1920s dress with handkerchief skirt with a tunic. Her costume is accessorised with fashionable pearls. Both dancers wear stylised wigs. This photograph was reproduced in the Tatler 27 July 1927 when the caption said 'Mercury was for strictly one performance only, and is a series of poses plastiques. The decor [not shown in the photograph], which is extremely bizarre, is by Picasso'","physicalDescription":"Stage photograph of Vera Petrova as Venus and Boris Lissanevitch as Apollo  in <i>Mercure</i> shows the dancers in 1920s, comtemporary fashion elides with 'Greek' dress and very artificial wigs. Venus leans back against Apollo with her arms raised.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sasha","id":"AUTH331526"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photograph","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2017JY4907"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES356682"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1927","earliest":"1927-01-01","latest":"1927-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection ","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"240","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"190","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph by Sasha of Vera Petrova as Venus and Boris Lissanevitch as Apollo in <i>Mercure</i>, performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1927","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.513-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"513","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-17","recordCreationDate":"2017-08-07","availableToBook":true}}