Research Catalog

Title

[Costume designs for Agnes de Mille] [graphic].

Author

Laing, Hugh.

Publication

[1938?-1941]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. fnd

Description

• 1 drawing : ink over graphite, one color; irreg. sheet 7 x 8 cm.
• 3 drawings : watercolor, gouache, color ;

Summary

Four costume designs for dancer-choreographer Agnes de Mille. One design, for the role of Venus in The judgment of Paris, closely resembles photographs of de Mille in the actual costume: a short dress with a large bow on the back, fishnet stockings, high-heeled shoes, and a long wig, with a hoop in her hand. Three drawings depict different views of an evening gown worn for a cancan number. Two are front and back views of the gown topped by an elaborate evening jacket with a ruff around the neck and multiple frills on the sleeves. In the front view, the woman is masked. The third drawing depicts the gown without the jacket, revealing its off-the-shoulder neckline. The woman, now unmasked, holds a red fan and wears elbow-length white gloves. A detail of the bodice is lightly sketched in pencil.

Donor/Sponsor

Dance Committee Purchase Fund.

Subjects

• De Mille, Agnes
• Costume design drawings
• Judgment of Paris (Choreographic work : Tudor)

Genre/Form

Costume design drawings.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• The ink drawing is labeled on the verso: Hugh Lang's [sic] 1st drawings for Agne's [sic] costume "Judgement of Paris."

Funding (note)

• Purchased with funds from the Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Biography (note)

• Antony Tudor's ballet The judgment of Paris (music, Kurt Weill; scenario and costumes, Hugh Laing) was first performed by the London Ballet in 1938, with guest artist Agnes de Mille in the role of Venus. De Mille herself choreographed the cancan number which she danced with Laing in the nightclub setting of the Rainbow Room in New York City in 1941.
• Hugh Laing, 1911-1988, originally left his native Barbados to study art, but his interest turned to ballet and he made his name as a dancer. He originated numerous roles in the ballets of choreographer Antony Tudor, his longtime artistic collaborator and partner, and in 1939 he accompanied Tudor from London to New York, where both men worked with Ballet Theater and the New York City Ballet. In addition to the designs in this collection, Laing also designed sets and costumes for revivals of Tudor's Gala performance and Pillar of fire.

Call Number

*MGZGD Lai H DeM 1-4

OCLC

824623070

Author

Laing, Hugh.

Title

[Costume designs for Agnes de Mille] [graphic].

Imprint

[1938?-1941]

Funding

Purchased with funds from the Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Biography

Antony Tudor's ballet The judgment of Paris (music, Kurt Weill; scenario and costumes, Hugh Laing) was first performed by the London Ballet in 1938, with guest artist Agnes de Mille in the role of Venus. De Mille herself choreographed the cancan number which she danced with Laing in the nightclub setting of the Rainbow Room in New York City in 1941.

Hugh Laing, 1911-1988, originally left his native Barbados to study art, but his interest turned to ballet and he made his name as a dancer. He originated numerous roles in the ballets of choreographer Antony Tudor, his longtime artistic collaborator and partner, and in 1939 he accompanied Tudor from London to New York, where both men worked with Ballet Theater and the New York City Ballet. In addition to the designs in this collection, Laing also designed sets and costumes for revivals of Tudor's Gala performance and Pillar of fire.

Local Note

Cataloging funds provided by Friends of Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Added Author

Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Funder

Research Call Number

*MGZGD Lai H DeM 1-4