Cinderella

Cinderella lived with her cruel and wicked stepmother and two ugly stepsisters. One day the Prince invited everybody to attend a ball, but poor Cinderella was not allowed to go...

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Loudon Sainthill Costume design for the ugly sister from 'Cinderella' 1958 (detail) gouache, watercolour and pencil on paper

Alice in Wonderland

While sitting beside a river one day, Alice became bored and tired of listening to her sister and decided to chase a white rabbit down a rabbit hole. Here she found herself in a curious land...

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Kenneth Rowell Costume designs for Daisy and Rose from 'Alice in Wonderland ' 1953 (detail) watercolour and collage on paper

The sleeping beauty

Once upon a time a grand party was held by a king to celebrate the birth of his baby daughter. All the fairies of the kingdom were invited to bless his daughter Aurora...

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Kenneth Rowell Costume designs for the Three Ivans from 'Sleeping Beauty' 1973 (detail) watercolour and pencil on card

The Bacchae

Pentheus was a cautious and careful king of Thebes in ancient Greece. One day he became angry that his people were worshipping Dionysus, the god of wine (whose Roman name is Bacchus)...

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Mirka Mora Thinking of Bacchae 1980 (detail) brush and coloured inks, watercolour, pen and ink on paper

Le Coq d'Or
National Gallery of Australia venue only

Old King Dodon worried that his country would be attacked by a neighbouring kingdom governed by the beautiful Queen Shemakhan. An astrologer gave the King a magic golden cockerel that would warn the King of any danger. The King, in return, promised to grant the astrologer anything he wished...

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Loudon Sainthill Costume design for The Queen of Shemakhan from
'Le Coq d'Or' 1954 (detail) gouache, pencil and chalk on paper