Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt as Marguerite Gautier in 'La Dame aux Camélias', 1891

Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923) was acclaimed as the greatest actor of her generation and had roles created for her by some of the finest writers of her age. A global superstar, she ultimately performed at least 70 roles in some 125 productions, appearing in countless countries, even Cuba and Samoa, and touring the USA alone nine times. She first appeared in Melbourne in May 1891, for weeks before which her visit to Australia had been the general and absorbing topic of conversation. According to the Sydney Morning Herald her triumph in Melbourne ‘was all the more gratifying because it was obtained from a critical and intelligent audience. It was evident that the play was thoroughly understood, although it was given in French.’ In turn, in the Hobart Mercury in October 1891, it was reported that Bernhardt found Australian audiences surpassed their English and American counterparts in their appreciation of dramatic art. In Australia she shot a koala at Healesville, then adopted its baby, whom she named Albertine. She also acquired a possum, called St Kilda. The marsupials, along with her St Bernard, named Auckland, stayed with her at the Australia Hotel in Sydney and were presumably later added to her menagerie, known at various times to have included monkeys and a cheetah. Bernhardt sat for Walter Barnett in Melbourne in June 1891, while on a massive tour of Australia that saw her act in a total of twelve plays, including the world premiere of Pauline Blanchard in Sydney. He photographed her in various roles here, and, for the last time, in London in 1910, by which time he was a huge photographic star and she was 66.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Purchased 2020