Adelina Patti

A carte-de-visite portrait of Adelina Patti (1843-1919), one of the most celebrated opera stars of all time and a consummate actress capable of conveying the subtlest shades of emotion.

This image does not appear in the Silvy daybooks in the archives of the National Portrait Gallery. Judging by the combination of this backdrop with this configuration of props, the portrait was taken on 19 August 1862. Page 87 of Volume 9, the page on which the portrait ought to appear, has been torn out.

Photographed by Camille Silvy.