Renounced his given first name and adopted a pseudonym
Lev Samoilovich Bakst was born on February 8, 1866 in Grodno. His full name at birth was Leyb-Khaim Izrailevich Rosenberg. Later the artist took the name Lev, or Leon. There is a version that the pseudonym Bakst originated from his maternal grandmother's maiden name — Baxter. His closest friends called the artist Levushka.
Was expelled from the Academy of Arts because of a scandal
In 1883 the seventeen-year-old Bakst enrolled at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts as an auditor, but he was unable to finish the institution. In 1886 he submitted to the competition for the large silver medal the painting "Lamentation of Christ", in which he depicted the Virgin as a thin old woman with tearful eyes. The professors considered such a treatment blasphemous and expelled the artist from the Academy. Thanks to the intercession of several teachers, Bakst left the Academy with the official reason "because of poor eyesight".
Was married to the daughter of Pavel Tretyakov
Lev Bakst was married to Lyubov Gritsenko — the daughter of the founder of the Tretyakov Gallery, Pavel Tretyakov. The beau monde was puzzled: Lyubov was not a classical beauty and did not have the most pleasant character. Nevertheless, for the sake of this marriage Bakst converted from Judaism to Lutheranism. A testament to their relationship was the painted portrait of Lyubov Pavlovna, painted in Menton in 1903 shortly before the wedding. In 1907 the couple had a son, Andrei. The marriage proved unsuccessful and the pair separated, remaining on good terms. After the divorce Bakst returned to his original faith.
Lev Bakst. Portrait of Lyubov Pavlovna Gritsenko-Bakst, 1903.
Taught Marc Chagall
In 1908 Bakst began teaching at the art school of E. Zvantseva in Saint Petersburg. Among his students was Marc Chagall. Later Chagall acknowledged that it was Bakst's school that allowed him to develop his own style, and the teacher became an example and authority for him. Years later Chagall would write in his autobiography: "Bakst turned my life in another direction. I will remember this man forever."
Became the legendary designer of the "Russian Seasons"
In 1910 Bakst began cooperating with Sergei Diaghilev on productions for the "Russian Seasons". The artist created costume and set sketches for the productions "Cleopatra" (1909); "Scheherazade" and "Carnaval" (1910); "Narcissus" (1911); "Daphnis and Chloe" (1912). Bakst also participated in the staging of the ballet "The Firebird" to music by I. F. Stravinsky. Bakst's costumes for theatrical productions became widely known and made a major contribution to the formation of the oriental and exotic direction of the Art Nouveau style. Fashionable women in Europe dressed in Eastern outfits and began to wear harem pants and turbans.
Costumes for the ballet "Scheherazade", 1910.
Blue God
Was expelled from Saint Petersburg
After his return to Judaism, Lev Bakst was subjected to attacks by the Black Hundred press. At the end of 1912 the artist visited Petersburg and, as a Jew who did not have the right to reside there, received an order to leave the capital within twenty-four hours. In May 1914, thanks to the efforts of friends and members of the Academy of Arts, Bakst was elected a full member of the Academy and gained the right to live in Petersburg, but he did not take up this offer and moved to Paris.
The artist's works appeared on the pages of Vogue magazine
In 1913 an article appeared in Vogue about Bakst's collaboration with the French fashion house Jeanne Paquin. The spread featured a photograph of one of America's wealthiest women — sculptor and patron Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney — in a costume made to Bakst's design. This piece became effective publicity for the artist's creations and introduced Bakst's name to a foreign audience. In 1923 Vogue published the text of Bakst's lecture on fashion and design, "L'Art du Costume et les lois, ces applications selon toute individualite".
Self-portrait, 1906.
Became a "hostage" of his servants
Shortly after the revolution Bakst learned that his beloved sister Rosalia had died in Russia. The artist suffered a nervous breakdown and was confined to bed. At that time there was not a single close person near him, only the maid Linda. Instead of caring for Bakst, she took advantage of his condition and terrorized the artist: she withdrew money from his personal account and insisted that Bakst include her and her husband in his will. Learning of his brother's plight, the artist's elder sister Sophia came to help. She came to France and threw the servant out. After some time Bakst recovered.
Wrote his only novel
Bakst was a skilled orator and had a fine command of words. A year before his death the artist wrote the autobiographical novel "A Cruel First Love". The plot is based on his passion for the French actress Marcel Josse and details of the life of Petersburg bohemia at the end of the 19th century.
Lev Bakst. Photo in his later years.
Died while working on the ballet "Ishtar" for Ida Rubinstein
Lev Bakst passed away on December 27, 1924 in Rueil-Malmaison at the age of 58, and was buried in the Batignolles cemetery in Paris. According to one version, the cause of death was pulmonary edema; according to another — kidney disease. The artist did not manage to finish work on the ballet "Ishtar" for Ida Rubinstein's troupe. A street in his native city of Grodno is named after him; the brand "Scheherazade", "Odalisque", "Almeya" and the "minaret" dress are also named in his honor.
