20TH CENTURY

This spectacular sofa was acquired by Mrs. Getty from the collection of her dear friend, ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993), who was a frequent visitor to the Getty's San Francisco home. Born in the Soviet Union, Nureyev's talent was recognized quite early, and he begin his career with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad in 1958. After defecting from the Soviet Union in 1961, Nureyev danced with The Royal Ballet in London before serving as director and choreographer of the Paris Opera Ballet. In 1985, Nureyev's apartment in Paris was profiled in Architectural Digest by long time friend Lee Radziwill. The feature showcased Nureyev's collection of costumes and lush textiles in rooms designed by Emilio Carcano. The present sofa was a centerpiece of Nureyev's salon; later it took pride of place in Mrs. Getty's music room, along with a set of curtains also acquired from Nureyev's Parisian residence (the preceding lot 453). The Getty's music room hosted numerous musical performances over the years, including by The Russian National Orchestra, of which Mr. Getty was a longtime patron.