Christmas card for Adeline Genée and her family

1950

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Christmas card for Adeline Genée and her family is a 1950 by Claire Avery, depicting Sheet Music, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Claire Avery
When & what style?: 1950
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

Claire Avery made this print as a Christmas card for ballerina Adeline Genée and her family. It shows sheet music, so it’s more than just a holiday greeting. Avery was an American artist who loved drawing dancers in motion. She met Genée in the USA and drew her performing and off stage. The New York Times once praised Avery’s ability to capture a dancer’s graceful movement. Check out the sheet music next.

The story of this work

Overview

A hand-coloured Christmas card by Claire Avery features Adeline Genée dressed in a white ballet costume, holding a tray of holly, accompanied by choir boys in black pierrot-style outfits with white ruffs, pom-poms, and red shoes, each carrying long candles. The image is framed by the greeting "Best wishes of the Season" above and "Mr, Mrs, & Miss Genée" below, printed in black ink with watercolour details.

Read the full account in the museum source.