Mlle Marie Vernon

Born Marie-Eugénie Renom, she adopted the name Marie Vernon when she became a dancer. On 30 January 1865 she married the influential journalist Adolphe Gaïffe (1830-1903), friend of Théophile Gautier and associate of Victor Hugo. Marie Vernon retired from the stage and went to live with her husband at Maisons-sur-Seine (today Maisons-Laffitte). In 1870 they acquired the Château d’Oron in Switzerland, where they raised three children: Jean, Daniel and Louise.

First presented in 1859 by the Imperial Ballet in St Petersburg under the title Le Marché des Parisiens, this comic ballet in one act was choreographed by Marius Petipa, with music by Cesare Pugni and libretto by Marius Petipa. Two years later, Petipa restaged it for the Paris Opéra under the title Le Marché des Innocents. First presented in Paris on 29 May 1861, the principal dancers were Marija Petipa (as Gloriette) and Louis Mérante (as the Marquis Megrèle).

Photographed by A. A. E. Disdéri.