Rothschild, Howard D. 1907-1989

Howard D. Rothschild (d. 1989) was an artist and a major American collector of artwork related to Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. He developed a passion for the Ballets Russes after Waslaw Nijinsky withdrew from a performance during the company's tour of America in 1916 attended by Rothschild when a child. The collection was amassed by purchase and by gift from the dancers and artists with whom Rothschild developed friendships.

Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) was a Russian ballet impresario, the founder, producer and artistic director of Ballets Russes.

Ballets Russes was established by Serge Diaghilev in 1909 as a touring company to promote Russian ballet in Europe. After World War I the company permanently relocated to the West. The company gave rise to careers of a great number of outstanding Russian and Western dancers, choreographers, composers and artists who had recreated the art of ballet for the 20th-century, both in Europe and in the United States.

From the guide to the Howard D. Rothschild collection on, Ballets Russes, of Serge Diaghilev, 1909-1956 (inclusive), 1909-1914 (bulk)., (Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)