Christian Bérard

Christian Bérard (20 August 1902, Paris, France — 11 February 1949, ibid), also known as Bebè, was a French visual artist, painter, fashion illustrator, and theater costume designer. He dated Russian ballet dancer Boris Kochno, who at the time performed in Paris with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company. Bérard died at only 47 from a sudden heart attack on the stage of Théâtre Marigny in Paris. In 1950, Francis Poulenc composed Stabat Mater choral work in his honor; one of Bebè's frequent collaborators, Jean Cocteau, dedicated his Orphée film to Bérard.