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Primary sourcePainting1911

Anna Pavlova as 'The Dying Swan'

John Lavery · 1911

An oil portrait of Anna Pavlova painted from life by John Lavery in 1911, showing her in her most famous role.

This portrait shows Pavlova in costume for her signature role, painted from life during her London triumphs.

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Oval painting of a woman with dark hair, wearing a white jeweled headpiece and white feathered costume with a dark blue gem at the bodice, against a dark brown background. Painted in loose, visible brushstrokes.
John Lavery, Anna Pavlova as 'The Dying Swan', 1911. Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this source

What it is

This oval oil painting by Irish artist John Lavery shows Anna Pavlova dressed in her famous swan costume. It was painted in 1911 and is now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Why it matters

Lavery painted Pavlova from life during her early London performances, a period when her dancing drew intense fascination from British artists and critics. The painting helped fix the image of Pavlova as 'The Dying Swan' in British culture, linking her name permanently with that role.

Look closer

  • What do the loose, visible brushstrokes suggest about how quickly Lavery worked, and why?
  • Why might an artist choose to paint a dancer in costume rather than in ordinary dress?
  • What does this painting leave out about Pavlova's actual movement on stage?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Anna Pavlova on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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