Serge Lifar (1905-1986) as Boreas in Zéphire et Flore
Dame Eileen Rosemary Mayo, DBE, RA (Norwich 1906 – Christchurch, New Zealand 1994)
Category
Art / Prints
Date
1910
Materials
Lithograph on paper
Measurements
445 x 345 mm
Place of origin
France
Order this imageCollection
59 Rodney Street, Merseyside
NT 966085
Summary
Lithograph, Serge Lifar (1905 - 1986) as Boreas in Zéphire et Flore (1925) by Dame Eileen Rosemary Mayo, DBE, RA (Norwich 1906 – Christchurch, New Zealand 1994). A male dancer in plumed helmet. In narrow red frame, red lacquered moulding. Framed. Another state is in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library, Canberra, Feint collection. Zéphire et Flore is ballet is set on Mount Olympus, where Boreas, the north wind, is plotting to abduct Flora, the wife of Zephyr, the west wind. Boreas initiates a game of blind man’s bluff to separate the pair and leads Zephyr off, killing him with an arrow. After he takes Flora off to his cave, she swoons from fright. Meanwhile nine mourning muses bring Zephyr’s body to Olympus, where he revives after his funeral procession. The muses then tie Flora tightly to Zephyr’s wrist so that she will not be lost again, and Boreas is punished. It was first produced by Charles-Louis Didelot (1767–1836) in London in 1796, becoming a popular part of the ballet repertoire throughout the 19th century. The original ballet, produced by Diaghilev for the Les Ballets Russes, became famous for its introduction of technical innovations such stage machinery and strung wires to support dancers as if in flight. Boreas's costume was designed by George Braque.
Makers and roles
Dame Eileen Rosemary Mayo, DBE, RA (Norwich 1906 – Christchurch, New Zealand 1994), artist Aubrey Beardsley (Brighton 1872 – Menton, France 1898), artist
References
Mayo 1928 Eileen Mayo, Serge Lifar, C. W. Beaumont, 1928, pl. 1