[Gluck, Cristoph Willibald. (1714–1787)] Fedorovitch, Sophie. (1893–1953)

"Blessed Spirit" - Original Costume Design from 1953 "Orfeo ed Euridice"

Costume design in pencil and colored ink for a grey dress or tutu decorated with white doves. Ca. 1953, unsigned but apparently in the hand of Sophie Fedorovitch. The attractive sketch is captioned at the right in pencil: "Tally Ho / Net apron with doves /... / 4 or 6 / Blessed Spirits." "Blessed spirits" referring to the well-known ballet sequence in Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice. Toning, wrinkling and edge tears, with a vertical folding crease; overall good. 17 x 13.5 inches (42.5 x 34.8 cm).

Orfeo ed Euridice was produced at the Royal Opera House as Orpheus in 1953, with costumes designed by Sophie Fedorovitch.

"Sophie Fedorovitch (1893-1953) was born in Russia and came to Britain in 1920 where she became one of the most significant and influential designers for the ballet. She had trained as a painter but from 1932 onwards concentrated on designing for the stage. Fedorovitch created 11 ballets for Frederick Ashton, who regarded her as the ideal designer for dance. She liked to work closely with choreographers, attending rehearsals and developing her ideas as the ballet took shape. On paper her designs appear impressionistic, usually no more than a few brush strokes, but capture the mood and the essentials; the practical details came later and could be worked out with the costumier. It is a way of working that many costume makers prefer, allowing them to contribute their own ideas so that the finished costume becomes the result of a collaborative process." (V&A Museum.) (17038)

Art Dance