Elizabeth Polunin facts for kids

Elizabeth Violet Polunin (born Hart; 21 May 1887 – 1950) was a talented British artist and theatre designer. She is especially known for her amazing work with Sergei Diaghilev and his famous dance company, the Ballets Russes.

Elizabeth Polunin's Life and Art

Early Life and Training

Divisional Officer Twyman (1942) (Art.IWM ART LD 1898)

Elizabeth Polunin was born in Ashford, Kent, England. When she was 17, she traveled to Paris to study art. She learned from famous teachers at the Académie Colarossi and the École des Beaux-Arts.

Later, Polunin continued her art education in Russia, at a private art school in Saint Petersburg. There, she was taught by Léon Bakst, a very important artist. After her time in Russia, she came back to England. She then studied with Walter Sickert at the Westminster School of Art.

Designing for the Stage

In 1907, Elizabeth Hart married Vladimir Polunin in St. Petersburg. The Polunins moved to London and both worked as artists for theatres. They designed and painted sets for many plays.

Their most famous work was for Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. This was a very famous ballet company that often performed in London. Elizabeth and Vladimir quickly became the main set designers for the company, working closely with Léon Bakst.

Diaghilev often asked other famous artists, like Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, to create designs for his shows. These artists had a big influence on Elizabeth Polunin's own work. She even painted portraits of Diaghilev and the famous opera singer Feodor Chaliapin.

In 1919, Picasso spent ten weeks in London. He was creating designs for the Ballets Russes' show, The Three-Cornered Hat. During this time, he worked in the Polunins' studio in Covent Garden, London. Elizabeth Polunin also designed for Sir Thomas Beecham's Beecham Opera Company.

Painting Portraits and Landscapes

After 1924, Elizabeth Polunin started to focus more on painting portraits and landscapes. She had many solo art shows in London, starting in 1925.

In 1933, Polunin returned to theatre design for a short time. She created the scenery and costumes for The Snow Maiden at Sadler's Wells Theatre. The Victoria and Albert Museum later bought some of her costume designs for their collection. Between 1924 and 1941, Polunin often showed her paintings at the Royal Academy of Arts.

During the Second World War, Polunin painted a few pieces for the War Artists' Advisory Committee. This committee asked artists to create art about the war. Besides her own shows, Polunin also exhibited her work with other art groups. These included the New English Art Club, the London Group, and in Paris at the Salon des Independants and the Salon d'Automne.

Polunin's Family Life

Elizabeth and Vladimir Polunin had three sons. All of them grew up to become important scientists.

• Oleg Polunin was a botanist, which means he studied plants. He was also a teacher and a traveler.
• Nicholas Polunin (1909–1997) was an explorer who studied the Arctic. He also worked to protect the environment.
• Ivan Polunin (1920–2010) was a medical anthropologist, who studied health and culture.

Today, there is a special plaque at the place where Polunin's studio used to be in Covent Garden. It reminds people that Picasso worked there for a time.