Carlotta Edwards (1894-1977)
| Artist Name | Carlotta Edwards (1894-1977) |
|---|---|
| Title | Fonteyn and Nureyev, Les Sylphides |
| Description | This charming British Ballet oil painting is by noted ballet artist Carlotta Edwards. Painted circa 1960 it is Fonetyn and Nureyev in Les Sylphides. When Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn began dancing together in the early 1960s, they made an unexpected pair—he was a young, hot-tempered Soviet defector and she was a distinguished prima of The Royal Ballet, 19 years his senior. Yet their partnership (which lasted almost two decades) became one of the most famous in all of ballet. Nureyev said in a documentary about Fonteyn that they danced with “one body, one soul.” In Les Sylphides, Fonteyn is a soft and enchanting sylph; her arched upper back in her arabesque line is Romantic perfection. She and Nureyev bend and float together, moving with a fluidity that matches Chopin’s score. Although this pas deux features the ballerina, we still get a glimpse of Nureyev’s spectacular ballon in his cabrioles while Fonteyn flutters alongside him in pas de couru. There are moments when Fonteyn takes penché and appears to be whispering inspiration into Nureyev’s ear. In reality Fonteyn and Nureyev were both muses to each other. They pushed one another to their pinnacle and elevated the art form to new heights. (Pointe dance magazine) Edwards has perfectly depicted the couple with a beautiful backdrop. This is an excellent example of her famous ballet paintings and will be loved by ballet fans. Signed lower right. |
| Provenance | Surrey estate. |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 25 x 30 inches |
| Frame | Housed in a gilt frame with name plate. Framed size is 36 inches by 31 inches and in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | The 1950s saw an explosion of all things ballet in popular culture. One of the most prominent artists was Carlotta Edwards (1894-1977). Edwards was the daughter of the French painter Ferdinand Pourrier. Her ballet scenes once graced the bedrooms of little girls (and big) all over England but were very popular in Australia and New Zealand. Edwards appears to have based most of her pictures on photographs of popular British dancers. |
| Price | £5000 |
