Firebird

Richard Buckle in Nijinsky on Stage (1971) pp.52-53 describes images which repeat those of S.994-2012 with at the top 'the bird of fire is seen in the opening solo dance...darting flame-like through the darkness' and next to it a sketch of her head. below left she is a low arabesque back view with arms fluttering - ''back turned, with undulating arms' - and to the right she stands clasping herself tremulously at the approach of Prince Ivan.'

Valentine Gross (1887 – 1968) studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris and was still a student when the Russian dancers first performed in Paris. She became a ballet enthusiast, illustrator, researcher and painter. Valentine Gross witnessed annual seasons of Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris and made preminary sketches during performances and rehearsals between 1909 and 1914 capturing te essence of the ballets. She would then work up the images into pastels which she displayed in theatre foyers and sold to Comoedia Illustré. Gross was married to the designer Jean Hugo 1919 (they later divorced) and it was a result of Richard Buckle’s friendship with Hugo that they were acquired by the V&A.

The sketches are part of the Valentine Gross Archive (THM/165), held by the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Valentine Gross Archive contains research material and artwork, including sketches, studies, drawings, pastels and illustrations. Only the artwork materials have been catalogued with museum numbers and given item level descriptions found in the Explore the Collections webpage.