Sarah Bernhardt

A cabinet card portrait of the actress Sarah Bernhardt (1845-1923), known to history as 'The Divine Sarah.'

Photographed by Napoleon Sarony of New York.

Napoleon Sarony was one of the most famous and prolific photographers in America, specializing in portraits of actors and actresses. During his career, he is said to have taken some 30,000 theatrical portraits. He was particularly noted for the unconventional poses and animated expression he elicited from his sitters. It doubtless helped that Sarony was as colourful, eccentric, and theatrical as many of his subjects. A tiny man like his namesake, he enjoyed strutting around in hussar's uniform. At his death, the studio reportedly contained 500,000 negatives.