EMMY HASKELL - Princess Serafina Astafiera, bronze bust circa 1927, signed F Barbedienne, Paris, and with further marks, on waisted marble plinth base, height 17.5cm Notes: Princess Serafina Astafieva was a Russian dancer with the Imperial Ballet and Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from 1909 to 1911. In 1916 she opened a dance school in London, The Peasantry, through which she provided a direct link between the Diaghilev ballet and British dancers in the early 20th century. One of her pupils was the young Dame Alicia Markova. In 1921 Astafieva presented Markova to Diaghilev aged just 10 years old and launched her future career with Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. Markova's lessons were sponsored by Emmy Haskell, the sculptor of this work.

Ask a specialist

Will Farmer
Director

Contact & bio