Mme. Hermine Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 It's labelled as Margot Fonteyn, but certainly doesn't look like her to me. Thanks! https://www.1stdibs.com/art/photography/black-white-photography/unknown-margot-fonteyn-legendary-ballerina-backstage-beauty/id-a_1101843/ Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 I agree - that's not Fonteyn. Unfortunately, I don't know who it is though. Link to comment
pherank Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Compare to this photo of Fonteyn: http://www.quotationof.com/gallery/margot-fonteyn-2.jpg.html It's possible that her position, and the lighting, are distorting her features. She may be pretty young (and have more "baby fat") in your photo too. Fonteyn had very dark brown hair, and a quite low hair line, but those aren't ruled out by your photo. Apparently Fonteyn had a couple of "nose jobs": https://themakingofmarkova.com/2013/06/06/nose-job-no-way/ Link to comment
sandik Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 If this is indeed "ca. 1950s," it's not the "pretty young" Fonteyn. I can't say definitively, but it certainly doesn't look right to me. Link to comment
pherank Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 This photo being "a hand numbered edition of 125 and archive stamped", you may well be able to request authentication if you are interested. Often the photographer keeps notes of where and when (and of who) the photo was taken. Link to comment
rg Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 my guess is that it's a Bolshoi Ballet dancer, and just possibly Yekaterina Maximova, but that's just a wild guess Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 In the background there is a piece of scenery etc. that's labeled "Royal Ballet". I don't think it's Beriosova and I'm sure it's not Maryon Lane, Anya Linden, Rowena Jackson - the list goes on. The photo is being sold by a dealer on line (but I'm not buying it, I'm just obsessing a little to find out who she is)... thanks everyone - Link to comment
mimsyb Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 In the background there is a piece of scenery etc. that's labeled "Royal Ballet". I don't think it's Beriosova and I'm sure it's not Maryon Lane, Anya Linden, Rowena Jackson - the list goes on. The photo is being sold by a dealer on line (but I'm not buying it, I'm just obsessing a little to find out who she is)... thanks everyone - This doesn't look like Fonteyn to me either. Violetta Elvin? June Brae? Sadler's Wells became "Royal" in 1956, so it's possible that scenery would be marked that way. But if this is early 50s, then no, it wouldn't' have the "Royal" on it's scenery. Link to comment
vagansmom Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 I wonder if the date is mislabeled. I have Fonteyn's autobiography sitting in front of me and one photo of her, labeled Shanghai 1933, looks a bit like the one on sale. Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 8, 2016 Author Share Posted July 8, 2016 Except that in 1933 it would not have been the Royal Ballet. It doesn't really look that early either. Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 8, 2016 Author Share Posted July 8, 2016 I also wonder whether it may be a lesser known member of the company. She resembles Pamela May a bit to me, but as she retired in 1952, this might mean the photo is from the tour in 1949? In 1949, Pamela May was about 32. Link to comment
mimsyb Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 I also wonder whether it may be a lesser known member of the company. She resembles Pamela May a bit to me, but as she retired in 1952, this might mean the photo is from the tour in 1949? In 1949, Pamela May was about 32. Pamela May was blond. Link to comment
Stage Right Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 I agree--it doesn't look like Fonteyn at all to me. Link to comment
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