Sarah Bernhardt as "La Princesse Lointaine" by Paul Berthon

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Paul Berthon ( 1872- 1909 ) was a French decorative artist.

He began studying painting in Villefranche. From 1893, he … Read more Paul Berthon ( 1872- 1909 ) was a French decorative artist.

He began studying painting in Villefranche. From 1893, he moved to Paris, where he attended the École normale d'enseignement du dessin. Among the courses taken at the time, those of the professor of decorative art Eugène Grasset had the greatest impact on him.

This is his most famous lithograph, a portrait of Sarah Bernhardt in the title role of "La Princesse Lointaine", which she first played in 1894. In this drawing, Berthon transformed the tiara of her costume and her garland of flowery jewelry into real irises framing her idealized face.

Sarah Bernhardt (1844 - 1923) was a renowned French actress and great tragedienne. She was the first actress to tour all 5 continents. Called by Victor Hugo "the Golden Voice", but also by others "the Divine" or "the Empress of the theater", she is considered one of the greatest French tragediennes of the nineteenth century. See less