A delicate costume design by Picasso for Diaghilev’s ballet Parade is one of the highlights of the next Impressionist & Modern Art auction on April 4th 2012 at Bonhams, 13 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London.

Etude de costume pour ‘le Magicien Chinois’ dans le ballet PARADE by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is estimated to sell for £18,000-22,000.

In January 1917 Sergei Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballets Russes, approached Picasso to design the costumes and set for his one-act ballet Parade, which was the first time Picasso has designed for the stage. Composed by Erik Satie, choreographed by Léonide Massine and with a libretto by Jean Cocteau, Parade premiered in Paris in May 1917. Picasso worked on his designs in February of that year whilst living in Rome with his fellow contributors, and it is here that he met his future wife Olga Khokhlova, who was a dancer in Diaghilev’s troupe.

A selection of ceramic works by Picasso are also expected to attract much interest, ArtDaily reported.