ACTRESSES AND OPERA SINGERS BY SARONY
CARTES DE VISITE (CDVs) $80. USD
This is a group of five gorgeous CDV portraits by Napoleon Sarony of New York City.
Each CDV has superb lighting, rich tones, and sharp details.
1) Handwritten in pencil on the back: "Jewett". Size: Approximately 4 1/8 x 2 7/16 inches. Condition: Photo - A few tiny spots. Mount - Small spots and light soiling on front and back.
2) Printed identification at the bottom of the mount: "MLLE. ALBANI." Size: Approximately 4 3/16 x 2 7/16 inches. Condition: Photo - Soiling. A bit of foxing. A few other tiny spots. Mount - Small spots and light soiling on front and back. Back shows wear at upper right corner, and light wear at other 3 corners.
3) Printed identification at the bottom of the mount: "LUCCA." Size: Approximately 4 1/8 x 2 7/16 inches. Condition: Photo - Missing lower left corner tip. Soiling. Mount - Small spots and some light soiling on front and back.
4) Handwritten in pencil on the back: "Montague". Size: Approximately 4 1/8 x 2 7/16 inches. Condition: Photo - Soiling. Discoloration. Mount - Light wear at corners. Soiling on front and back.
5) Printed identification at the bottom of the mount: "DORA GOLDTHWAITE." Size: Approximately 4 1/16 x 2 7/16 inches. Condition: Photo - Missing small piece from top edge. A few tiny spots. Mount - Trimmed. Some spots and light soiling on front and back.
NAPOLEON SARONY (1821 - 1896). "Canadian-born Sarony moved to New York in 1836 and worked as a lithographer for Nathaniel Currier until he established his own firm in 1843. Originally self-taught, in 1858 he went to Europe for artistic training. In 1864 he apprenticed himself to his brother, Oliver Sarony, a noted photographer in Scarborough. Within a year he went to Birmingham and partnered with R. W. Thrupp and Martin Laroche. Sarony returned to New York in 1866 and opened a studio on Broadway. He became one of the most famous photographers in America, specialising in photographing actors and actresses. He was particularly noted for the unconventional poses and animated expression he elicited from his sitters." (source: UK National Portrait Gallery website)
SARA JEWETT. "Popular 19th century stage actress Sara Jewett was a member of Augustin Daly's company, which included such stars of the day as Fanny Davenport, Clara Morris and John Drew. In 1874, Jewett starred in Daly's production of Alixe..." (source: History for Sale website)
MLLE. ALBANI. "Dame Emma Albani, DBE (born Marie-Louise-Emma-Cécile Lajeunesse; 1 November 1847 – 3 April 1930) was a Canadian-British operatic coloratura soprano, later spinto soprano and dramatic soprano of the 19th and early 20th century, the first Canadian singer to become an international star. Her repertoire focused on the operas of Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Wagner. She performed across Europe and North America." (source: Wikipedia)
PAULINE LUCCA (1841 - 1908). "Known more for her two-octave range and her dramatic flair than for the quality of her singing, Austrian soprano Pauline Lucca trained in Vienna with Uffmann and Levy, and made her debut in Vienna in 1859, as the Second Boy in Die Zauberflöte. She appeared in Berlin, London, and Paris, and was in Russia between 1868 and 1869 and the United States between 1872 and 1874. Dubbed 'the demon wild-cat,' Lucca had a repertory that included the roles of Donna Anna, Zerlina, Valentine, Eva, Selika, Lenora (Trovatore) and Azucena, none of which were as celebrated as her Carmen. Off-stage, Lucca's purported relationship with Count Otto von Bismarck also created a stir. Cosima Wagner wrote of their public familiarity: 'Such things do no honour to the crown or to art.'" (source: Encyclopedia website)
LOUISE MONTAGUE. "Louise Montague, whose real name was Laura Keene Stuart, was engaged by John Stetson to tour New England as Yum-Yum with Carte's Fourth American Mikado Company in December 1885. She also appeared as Yum-Yum with Carte's Second Company in Boston the week of December 28, 1885, after Laura Clement left but the cast, but before Ida Mülle who joined the Second Company in January 1886. It's unclear whether she returned to the Fourth Company:she was not in the cast in late February when they appeared in New Haven. Miss Montague's career on the New York Stage dated to 1879. That year she appeared as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore with at Henry Miner's New Theatre in the Bowery. In 1881 The Police Gazette reported that, following a nationwide search, Louise Montague, described as a burlesque actress and singer, had been awarded $10,000 after being judged to be the most beautiful woman in America. She was subsequently engaged by Adam Forepaugh to appear on tour in his heavily publicized pageant Lalla Rookh. Miss Montague's stage career extended into the 1890s." (source: The Gilber and Sullivan Archive website)
DORA GOLDTHWAITE (died 1922). "She performed at Macauley's Theatre in 'The Education of Mr. Pipp' in December 1906." (source: University of Louisville, University Libraries Digital Collections). According to the Internet Broadway Database, she also performed in: My Partner (Apr 12, 1880 - May 15, 1880, The Privateer (Aug 21, 1897 - Sep 1897), Du Barry (Dec 25, 1901 - May 31, 1902), and Julie Bonbon (Jan 01, 1906 - Apr 15, 1906).