The collection of Serge Lifar, the legendary star of the Ballet Russes, which includes works by Picasso and Chagall are to be auctioned in Geneva.
The three hundred drawings are expected to fetch more than $1.5 million.
Lifar was principal dancer of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballet and is considered to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th Century. He appeared in a number of performances featuring costumes and dйcor by Picasso.
Among the highlights of Lifar’s collection is an assortment of 3,000 photographs from ballet performances, up for sale at the Swiss auction along with ballet costumes and scenery.
The Russian dancer, Lifar played the lead roles in George Balanchine’s ballets. After the death of Diaghilev, in 1929, he entered the Paris Opera Ballet where the dancer-turned-choreographer created his signature performances, such as Les Creatures de Promethee, Istar and Suite en Blanc.