Louise Abbéma 

The rediscovery of a painted sketch for the décor of the public foyer of the Sarah Bernhardt theatre on the Place du Châtelet in Paris is quite exceptional. Since the theatre was built, it has undergone a series of refurbishments, resulting in the disappearance of the decorative scheme intended by Sarah Bernhardt and signed by the painters Alfons Mucha, Georges Clairin, Louis Besnard and Louise Abbéma. Our modello is a unique testimony to the history of the city's theatre.

Louise Abbéma's large portrait of Sarah Bernhardt in the role of Jacasse was particularly suited to the building where Miguel Zamacoïs's play Les Bouffons premiered in January 1907. It was also part of a genealogy of artistic performances featuring Sarah Bernhardt in the roles that made her famous.

Louise Abbéma's sensitive portrayal of the actress, theatre director and beloved companion who accompanied her throughout her life is threefold.

Sarah Bernhardt signed a lease with the City of Paris to run the Théâtre des Nations, place du Châtelet, from 1 January 18991. The theatre, built in 1862 by Gabriel Davioud, had undergone major reconstruction work since it burnt down during the Paris Commune in 1871. The new lease expressly stipulated that "the decorative painting and interior furnishing of the theatre" would be the responsibility of the buyer. The work lasted six months. It was a unique opportunity for Sarah Bernhard to show her originality in decorating the theatre.

Our sketch, painted in 1907, shows Sarah Bernhardt in the role of René, disguised as a buffoon, for Miguel Zamacoïs's play. The first performance of Les Bouffons, a play in four acts and verse, took place on 25 January 1907. It was created for the Sarah Bernhardt theatre and set in 1557. Solange de Maupré, daughter of a penniless baron, inspired by reading the story of Geoffroy, King Philippe V's jester, asks her father for one to entertain herself. René, a wealthy gentleman in love with the young woman, transforms himself into Jacasse to attract her attention. Sarah Bernhardt's diction and acting were universally acclaimed. In the catalogue of the exhibition devoted to the life and work of Sarah Bernhardt, Stéphanie Cantarutti, Chief Curator of the Musée du Petit Palais, recalls how much the actress loved projecting herself into male roles that offered a palette of nuanced emotions: "In no woman's character," she said, "do I find such a variety of feelings, such evocative power".

Notre modello is a mise en abîme of Sarah Bernhardt, actress and commissioner of Miguel Zamacoïs' literary work and Louise Abbéma's pictorial work. The painted décor of the foyer was completely dismantled around 1943 and has yet to be found. The modello is therefore a unique document for our knowledge of the history of the Théâtre de la Ville de Paris, which underwent numerous renovations and works throughout the 20th century, and which celebrates its reopening in 2023.