Lev Smoïlevitch Rosenberg called Bakst (1866-1924) studied painting in Saint Petersburg and then visited Paris before settling in Moscow where he was first known as a painter of Russian popular life.
He later worked in Munich as a portrait painter. Much influenced by French modern art he radically changed his palette and produced some aesthetic works.
Bakst founded the «Mir Iskousstva» (the Artistic World) group and then moved to Paris in 1893. There he worked as a costume designer for theatre plays and ballets, notably the Russian Ballets of Serge Daghilev.
Mixing the ingredients of Russian art and French modernism with a touch reminiscent of that of Aubrey Beardsley and of Persian miniatures as well as Fauvism he produced some magnificent pieces for the Shehrazad and Cleopatra ballets in 1909 and 1910.
Much admired by French fashion designer Paul Poiret, Bakst painted a portrait of the great ballet dancer Nijinsky as well of those of Daghilev and star ballerina Ida Rubinstein.
Bakst notably painted some Biblical scenes.
His works are now rated between US $ 15,000 and 55,000.
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