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Anna Pavlova

(1881-1931), Ballet dancer

Sitter in 31 portraits
The Russian-born ballerina Pavlova trained at the Imperial Ballet School in St Petersburg and graduated in 1899. She first danced her incomparable Giselle at the Maryinsky Theatre in 1903 and took the role of Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty in 1908. Her most famous solo, The Dying Swan , was created for her in 1907 by Mikhail Fokine. She appeared briefly with the Ballets Russes but preferred to star in her own company and began to tour from 1908. She made her New York and London debuts in 1910, inviting comparison with her rival Adeline Genée. From 1912 she made London her base, living at Ivy House, Golders Green. Pavlova's ballets include Snowflakes (1915) and Autumn Leaves (1920).

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Anna Pavlova, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x18146

Anna Pavlova

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 28 June 1920
NPG x18146

Anna Pavlova, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x18147

Anna Pavlova

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 28 June 1920
NPG x18147

Anna Pavlova with her Boston Terrier, by Madame d'Ora (Dora Philippine Kallmus) - NPG x132874

Anna Pavlova with her Boston Terrier

by Madame d'Ora (Dora Philippine Kallmus)
sepia-toned postcard print, mid-late 1920s
NPG x132874

Anna Pavlova in Egypt, by Anglo-Swiss Photo-Studio, Cairo - NPG x135875

Anna Pavlova in Egypt

by Anglo-Swiss Photo-Studio, Cairo
sepia-toned matte vintage print, 1923
NPG x135875

Anna Pavlova in 'Au Bal', published by Ross-Verlag - NPG x135876

Anna Pavlova in 'Au Bal'

published by Ross-Verlag
vintage bromide print, 1927
NPG x135876

Anna Pavlova with 'Jack', by Lafayette - NPG x49320

Anna Pavlova with 'Jack'

by Lafayette
whole-plate glass negative, August 1927
NPG x49320

Anna Pavlova with 'Jack', by Lafayette - NPG x49321

Anna Pavlova with 'Jack'

by Lafayette
whole-plate glass negative, August 1927
NPG x49321

Anna Pavlova, by Nicolas Yarovoff - NPG x197332

Anna Pavlova

by Nicolas Yarovoff
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 11 September 1929
NPG x197332

Web image not currently available

Anna Pavlova

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 28 June 1920
NPG x18148

Web image not currently available

Anna Pavlova

by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 28 June 1920
NPG x158937

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Pauline Pettersson née Fletcher.

12 November 2019, 13:57

My family have a beautiful portrait photo of Anna Pavlova taken by Madame D’Ora, Dora Kallmus, an Austrian photographer taken in 1925. Some lovely words to her Conductor & signed Anna Pavlova.
It was given to her musical director, Theodore STIER, also from Austria, on his retirement, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London in October, 1925. Together with a very old photo album with many photos of Pavlova on her travels, at Ivy House her London home & some of her pet dogs, quite fascinating. Next year, 2020, marks 100 years that Pavlova & Stier returned to London to perform after WW1. My late Grandfather, Edward Fletcher, was a musician in the early 20th Century, he was friends with Stier & Pavlova. Hence the memorabilia being passed down through the Fletcher family. I wrote a blog which shows both photos of Pavlova & Stier, taken by the famous photographer Dora Kallmus.