Duse, Eleonora. (1858–1924)
Signed Cabinet Photograph
Original A. Dupont of New York cabinet photograph of the great Italian actress, known for her roles in plays by Henrik Ibsen and Gabriele D'Annunzio, the Italian poet and novelist to whom Duse was a muse and lover. Considered by many as the greatest actress of her time, she has long been admired for her total assumption of the roles she portrayed. Duse has signed in ink along the upper margin and dated "1902" to lower margin, with "Dec 24 1902" stamped to verso by photographer's studio. Adhesive remnants to verso, recto unaffected, overall in fine condition. 4.25 x 6 inches (10.8 x 16.5 cm.)."Duse's tour of Russia in 1891 was the beginning of her career as a celebrated international star; between 1892 and 1902, she gave more than 100 performances in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Russia, and made three trips to the United States. Her 1896 and 1902 tours in the United States were much more successful than her first tour in 1893, where her poor health was cause for a number of canceled shows. The two later tours drew President Grover Cleveland and his Cabinet to many of her performances, culminating in a special reception for her at the White House. A London tour in 1895 was also a major triumph, eliciting not only an invitation to perform before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle but also rapturous praise from George Bernard Shaw, who declared that 'I should say without qualification that it is the best modern acting I have ever seen. The extraordinary richness of her art can only be understood by those who have never studied the process by which an actress is built up.'" (Eleonora Duse, encyclopedia.com) (20454)
Signed Photograph Performing Arts & Media Theater