Inscribed u.r.: King Mark

Watercolour over ink, 39.5 by 19.5 cm

Exhibited: Susan Sheehan Gallery, New York, Andy Warhol and Cecil Beaton - Design and Draughtsmanship, March-May 2000 (no.21)

This the original costume design for King Mark for Frederick Ashton's ballet Picnic at Tintagel, produced by New York City Ballet in 1952. The ballet used music by the English composer Arnold Bax (including his eponymous tone poem, Tintagel). Moncion was a leading light in New York City Ballet, his career spanning some forty years as both dancer and choreographer. The production was also know for its many costume changes, requiring the dancers to change from Edwardian to Medieval clothes. Beaton designed the Edwardian outer-garments to help conceal the Medieval costumes underneath.