Léon Bakst (1866-1924) Bakst was a Russian painter and scene- and costume- designer. Born Lev Rosenberg in St. Petersburg, he studied at Moscow and Paris academies. Bakst designed settings for Greek tragedies, and in 1908 made a name as a scene-painter for Diaghilev with the Ballets Russes. Bakst had a great influence on art and fashion in the early 20th century, especially on scene-designing, of which he was one of the first modern masters.