When Serge Diaghilev decided to produce for his 1921London season a revival of Petipa's 'Sleeping Beauty', heturned to the great Russian designer Léon Bakst to providethe scenery and costumes. In the incredibly short time ofjust six weeks Bakst produced several hundred costumedesigns and scenery for all four acts. To avoid confusionwith English pantomimes, Diaghilev changed the name ofthe ballet to 'The Sleeping Princess'.Although the production was a financial failure it was agreat artistic success, due in a large part to Bakst's designs, and this success led to the production of this book, firstpublished in 1923 in a limited edition of one thousandcopies, and never before reprinted with the illustrationsin full colour. The original editors chose to reproduce 54of Bakst's designs, mainly of costumes for the principalcharacters but including five set designs, all of which areincluded here.