SERGEI LOBANOV (1887–1942) Vasily Tikhomirov as Conrad in the ballet Le Corsaire

signed with initials and inscribed in Cyrillic ‘SL / V.D. Tikhomirov … v Korsare / 14.VI.1925’ (lower right) pencil and coloured crayon on paper 22 × 27 cm. Vasily Dmitrievich Tikhomirov (1876–1956) was a Russian and Soviet ballet dancer, choreographer and teacher. A leading soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, he later served as ballet master and director of the ballet company. He was awarded the title People’s Artist of the RSFSR in 1934. Tikhomirov performed the role of Conrad in the ballet Le Corsaire, originally based on Lord Byron’s poem The Corsair with music by Adolphe Adam and later revisions by several composers. The ballet was staged in Moscow in a new production in 1912 at the Bolshoi Theatre, choreographed by Alexander Gorsky with stage designs by Konstantin Korovin. In 1925 Vasily Tikhomirov was still associated with the ballet Le Corsaire, though by this time his principal role at the Bolshoi Theatre had shifted toward administrative and artistic leadership. Having revived the ballet in 1912, he continued to maintain it in the repertoire and occasionally appeared in the role of Conrad, although by the mid-1920s these performances were largely farewell appearances as he gradually withdrew from the stage as a dancer.