During the rst seasons of the Ballets Russes Diaghilev relied on a trio of Russian designers: Alexandre Benois, Léon Bakst, and Nicholas Roerich. Benois and Bakst were friends of Diaghilev’s from St. Petersburg who had collaborated on the Russian ne arts periodical World of Art, and Diaghilev had previously recognized Roerich as a signi cant artist, including him in the 1906 exhibition of Russian paintings at the Salon d’Automne in Paris. Benois looked back to romantic traditions and the courtly style of the eighteenth century. His designs for Les Sylphides (1909), a production from the Ballets Russes’ rst season, include traditional long tutus and moody moonlit stage sets. Bakst’s style was bolder. Known for his brightly colored and sensuous designs, he looked to both ancient Greek and Eastern cultures for inspiration. Bejeweled tones created dramatic impact, as in the unusual