Sarah Bernhardt, Dark Spirit
As October closes and I have less and less excuses to indulge my darker tastes, I thought it wise to end with Sarah.
Sarah had the great charm of not only being a lively sprite, indulging fully in what life presented to her; she also seemed to take great pleasure in darker delights.
Many may be familiar with her magnificent inkstand, fashioned in her likeness; a sphinx eager to devour the hearts of men, bearing upon her shoulder emblems of her craft, Tragedy & Comedy.
Inkwell
Self portrait as Sphinx
ca. 1880
artist: Sarah Bernhardt
1844-1923
bronze
Not only gifted on stage but the studio as well, gotta love the gal.
That ostrich plume will just drive you mad.
As a boy I encountered this image of Sarah in her coffin. any devotee of the Divine One knows the image, but I never tire of it. Evidently neither did her public, it was wildly popular.
by Milandru
Sarah Bernhardt posing in her coffin
ca. 1880
albumen print cabinet card
Bibliothèque Nationale de France
I love the inclusion of her portrait bust , she is the artist of course.
Portrait Bust
ca. 1878 Sarah Bernhardt
Museé d’ Orsay
Paris
As an actress she of course excelled at Tragedy, here she is as the great Elizabeth encountering Essex, having had ordered his execution. You don’t get more dramatic then this, her hand wailing- I can totally relate …
ca. 1899
Sadly all the play acting came to an end, we only have bits of brittle film to remember her by.
At least she is eternal neighbors with Oscar.
And with that,
Babylon Baroque
