BERNHARDT SARAH: (1844-1923) Lot n° 1

BERNHARDT SARAH: (1844-1923) French stage actress. A large vintage signed and inscribed 14.5 x 12 photograph of the actress in a full-length pose, wearing a long white dress, lying in the lap of an actor, with several other thespians alongside, in a scene from the play Izeyl. Photograph by Joseph Byron of Broadway, New York, and bearing his credit stamp to the verso and pencil signature beneath the image. Signed by Bernhardt in dark fountain pen ink to the lower photographer's mount, with an inscription in French, dated New York, 1896 in her hand. A few light, minor water stains, just affecting the signature and inscription, and with some light age wear to the edges of the mount. G Izeyl, described as an 'Indian religious drama' by The New York Times was a melodrama by Armand Silvestre and Eugene Morand which ran for one week of Bernhardt's five week engagement at Abbey's Theatre (The Knickerbocker Theatre) on Broadway in January 1896. Set in Himalayan India in the 5th century BC, Bernhardt starred in the title role as a courtesan who tries to seduce the Hindu Christ Buddha, but fails. Joseph Byron (1847-1923) English photographer who founded the Byron Company in Manhattan and specialised in photographing Broadway shows and other stage productions.