Raoul Pene Du Bois, “Nudes Stepping Forth”, Theatrical Sketch, Painted Gouache, circa 1945, 40 x 30 Inches
Du Bois was born on Staten Island in New York City, the son of René Pène Du Bois, a banker. He started his career as a costume designer when he was 14, by designing four showgirl costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies. He went on to design the costumes for the Broadway revues “Ziegfeld Follies of 1934″, his first show and “Ziegfeld Follies of 1936″.
Du Bois designed the costumes and/or the scenery for some 48 Broadway shows, starting in 1934 with the “Ziegfeld Follies of 1934″ and his last, “Reggae” in 1980; his designs were used in Jerome Robbins’ “Broadway” in 1989. Among his work was “Gypsy””(1959) and many other musicals starring Ethel Merman. He worked on Billy Rose’s Aquacade for the New York World’s Fair (1939–40).
He won the 1971 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, Best Costume Design for “No, No, Nanette” and the 1953 Tony Award, Best Scenic Design, for “Wonderful Town” and was nominated for the Tony Award, Costume Design, for “Sugar Babies” (1980), “Doctor Jazz” (1975) and “Gypsy” (1960), and for scenic design for “The Student Gypsy” (1964).
https://www.1stdibs.com Reference Number LU86512102682