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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949 unframed ((3)) image 1
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949 unframed ((3)) image 2
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949 unframed ((3)) image 3
The Roy Astley Collection: Theatrical Designs by Cecil Beaton and Oliver Messel
Lot 64AR

Oliver Messel
(British, 1904-1978)
Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949
unframed

20 May – 3 June 2025, 12:00 BST
Online, London, Knightsbridge

£1,500 - £2,500

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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978)

Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949
To include two designs for the 'Old Countess' and one for the younger version
each signed 'Oliver Messel' (lower right); the first inscribed 'The Countess/out for a drive/Bird Market' (upper right); the second 'The Countess' (upper left)
watercolour, gouache and pencil, the second with gold paint
51.25 x 39.5cm (20 3/16 x 15 9/16in).
unframed
(3)

Footnotes

The Queen of Spades was Messel's second Post-War film for which he designed both the sets and costumes.

Director Thorold Dickinson notes that upon arrival at the studio once the sets were near completion it was clear that 'Messel was obviously a man of the theatre with little film experience. He couldn't understand what scales you can use in film. He built a coach which was so big once you got it moving, it could only move ten feet before it was going through the studio wall. He did also note, however, that 'Oliver's sets were handsome and full of character...[and] was well chosen for the job.'

For further commentary on The Queen of Spades see R. Pinkham, Oliver Messel, exhibition catalogue, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1983.

Additional information

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