NATALIA GONCHAROVA (1881-1962) Costume study of a Magus for the ballet 'Liturgie signed 'N. Goncharova' (lower right); inscribed in pen: 'I certify Boris Kniaseff that I purchased from my long-time collaborator and dear friend Nathalie Goncharova in Paris in 1942 this watercolour on the theme of the ballet by Diaghileff/ Boris Kniaseff' (verso) stencil 62.2 x 43 cm circa 1926 PROVENANCE: Boris Kniaseff (1900 -1975), Russian-born French dancer, ballet master and teacher Liturgie' is an unrealized ballet by Léonide Massine (1896 -1979) to sacred music, a project for Diaghilev's 'Ballets Russes', known mainly for the avant-garde costume sketches by Natalia Goncharova, created in 1915 and printed in a limited edition around 1926. Goncharova's 'Liturgy' series is considered the best of her designs for Diaghilev's ballets, based on Russian traditions and folklore. Goncharova worked on 'Liturgy' on commission from Sergei Diaghilev in 1915-1917. She made numerous pencil sketches, which she then translated into coloured compositions using gouache and silver and gold leaf collage techniques. As an artist, Goncharova was inspired by the pictorial sources of ancient Russia - frescoes, mosaics and icons. The action of the show was transposed to a temple with a traditional iconostasis. When it became clear that the ballet would not be performed, Goncharova decided to stencil the costume sketches, slightly modifying and adapting some of them. In a letter dated 1926, Mikhail Larionov wrote: '...an album of this kind by Goncharova will soon appear, to be called "Liturgy". The album will contain 17 or 19 drawings in colour, signed by the author. Only 50 copies of the album will be printed. The reproductions of the drawings will be done by hand, to the size of the originals, in watercolour and gouache. Everything will be done by hand, just like the original...' One of the drawings depicting the character of Mage was published on the cover of the catalogue of Larionov and Goncharova's American exhibition in 1922. Reference: Liturgy. 1915 - Lausanne. 16. Models. Reproduced in stencil after the original watercolours and signed by the author. Paris. La Cible. At the buyer's request, we are happy to provide a general condition report for the lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise prospective buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist or conservator of their choice for a full professional assessment. Descriptions of the condition of objects in the catalogue or in any correspondence are given for guidance only and should not be regarded as a substitute for a first-hand valuation. ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD 'AS IS' IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE