Coppelia by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Leo Delibes, Margot Fonteyn (1998, Reinforced Hardcover)

Margot Fonteyn’s, ‘Coppelia‘ ‘is a nicely written and freshly told version of the Classic Ballet “Coppelia” about an old fashioned European doll maker and the wonderfully fine dolls he creates, including one life like girl he names Coppelia. The doll maker loves the girl as if it where his own daughter, and fools the towns people into believing she is indeed a person. He then experiments with Alchemy to try to bring the doll to life.

The artwork that helps tell the story is a beautiful combination of mixed media collage and painting in oil and acrylic on canvas. The collages of textured fabrics, brocades, tweeds and tapestry, combined with thick brush strokes of paint spread across the pages create a create a vivid depth and quality as though you can touch and feel the picture settings. Each page is bordered with a collage of remnant fabric scraps, strokes of oil and acrylic paints, and mixed textures, as though the remnant pieces are all around as the story is being read.

Another aspect of the painted illustrations that is especially interesting are the cut pieces of fabric that are used for the clothing of each of the figures in the story, that are so elegantly shaped and blended into the paintings.

It is really a beautiful introduction to a classic ballet story told with fascinating and beautifully painted illustrations.


(4-8) (48 pages)