09.05.1866 – 28.12.1924

May 9, 1866 was born the famous representative of Russian Art Nouveau, set designer, illustrator, member of the World of Art, Leon Bakst.

Leib-Khaim Izrailevich Rosenberg, namely this name was given to Bakst at birth, was born in Grodno in a wealthy Jewish family. Soon the Rosenbergs moved to St. Petersburg.

The craving for painting was manifested in Bakst since childhood, and in 1883 he entered the Academy of Arts as a volunteer. Bakst studied not very diligently, perhaps because the teaching was of an academic nature, not responding to new trends in the visual arts. In 1887, he failed the competition for a silver medal and retired from the Academy.

The young artist made a living by illustrating children’s books. In 1889 Leib-Chaim Rosenberg became Leon Bakst. His new name, more precisely a pseudonym, the artist borrowed from his grandmother on the mother’s line, somewhat shortening it. The grandmother’s last name was Baxter. The appearance of a catchy pseudonym was associated with the first exhibition, in which the artist decided to present his works.

In 1893 -1897, Leon Bakst lived and worked in Paris, often returning to St. Petersburg, where he met with the “Nevsky Pickwickians.” It was a circle organized by the famous Russian artist, art historian, art critic Alexander Benois. The circle consisted of Konstantin Somov, Dmitry Filosofov, Sergei Diaghilev and some other artists, art critics and writers, who eventually formed the famous art association “The World of Art”. In 1898, the first issue of the magazine Mir Iskusstva was published, the editor of the magazine was Sergei Diaghilev, and the art department of the journal was headed by Leon Bakst.

Bakst entered the ballet group of the organizer of the “Russian Seasons” in Paris, Sergei Diaghilev. These productions, laid in the basis of “Russian Seasons”, shook the satiated French, caused them a storm with nothing incomparable delight. Diaghilev’s “Russian Seasons” triumph was, first of all, due to the exceptionally beautiful performances of Bakst. The artist acquired extreme popularity in Paris. The Russian poet Maximilian Voloshin wrote: “Bakst managed to grasp the elusive nerve of Paris, which rules fashion, and his influence at the present moment affects everywhere in Paris – both in ladies’ dresses and in art exhibitions.” The French government awarded Bakst with the Order of the Legion of Honor.

The artist also wrote a lot and willingly portraits – Levitan, Diaghilev, Rozanov, Zinaida Gippius, Isadora Duncan, Jean Cocteau, Constantine Somov, Andrei Bely.

Leon Bakst died on December 27, 1924 in Paris, at the age of 58, and was buried in the Paris cemetery of Batignolles.