Chernomore’s Garden
Постановка А. А. Поплавского. Театр при Народном доме императора Николая II. Петроград. Премьера 18. 05. 1914. 1913
- Paper, watercolours, gouache, graphite pencil. И.: 24,7 х 41,2; л.: 26 х 43 (очерчен)
- Р-53022
Пост. в 1957 от А. В. Щекатихиной-Потоцкой, Ленинград
Mikhail Glinka’s opera Ruslan and Lyudmila was staged at the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres with sets by Konstantin Korovin and Alexander Golovin. On the wide new stage of the People’s House (now the Music Hall, St Petersburg), however, the opera was successfully staged with sets and costumes by Ivan Bilibin. The inevitable comparison of Bilibin’s interpretation of Chernomore’s Garden with that of Alexander Golovin (or an even earlier one by Sergei Malyutin) reveals just how strongly Bilibin’s experience as a book illustrator was reflected in his theatrical designs. This can be seen in the graphic nature of this watercolour painting and the conscientious following of the text of Pushkin’s poem.