19.00 USD
Considered to be one of the most beautiful women of the period, Genevieve Lantelme, born Mathilde Hortense Claire Fossey, on May 20, 1883, was certainly as tragic a figure as she was a romantic one.
We are in love with Belle Epoque France, it's true, but of course we know it is our imaginings that we love. No doubt there were countless golden moments, sights and sounds, very much as we imagine them, but as Thomas Vaughan wrote (in so many words), "The sun does not shine forth her light without casting shadows," and we deal in bright images of a springtime world full of music and light, seldom searching out the dark places.
Mlle. Lantelme's images are quite collectible, in part, no doubt, because of her short life and mysterious death, but also because of the many gorgeous images of her. She was, in her day, quite the fashion maven.
In her memoirs, Simone Le Bargy, another Belle Epoque actress, wrote of Lantelme,
"At fourteen she was one of the lures at her mother's brothel, but soon became an acclaimed Paris actress. Theatregoers savoured her reputation for enjoying the bodies of men and women with equal pleasure: her languid slouch was imitated by other Parisian vamps."
Certainly she traded on her connections with powerful men in order to advance herself in her career, and although, if what Le Bargy wrote was true, and Mlle. Lantelme's connections were made more "directly" than some, it was not at all uncommon for young girls in training as dancers and actresses to be displayed, like prize horses at a fair, so that those very connections with wealthy, powerful, men could be made. It was, in fact, a commonly accepted practice.
Only young ladies from wealthy, protected, backgrounds, like Mlle. Cleo de Merode, were immune to it, and even then, when as a matter of course, she received the attentions of kings and wealthy industrialists, it was still assumed by most that she had come to some "arrangement" with them.
Mlle Lantelme had climbed her ladder to success, was at the height of her career, and about 23 years old, when this wonderful photograph was taken by Monsieur Bert, in 1910. She was appearing in "Le Vieil Homme" a psychological drama and exploration of the "eternal triangle" by French play-write Georges de Porto-Riche, and had been married for a couple of years to Alfred Edwards, a W.R. Hearst variety of Media Tycoon.
Not very long after this card would have been published, in early July of 1911, Lantelme and her husband, along with some friends, boarded his yacht, "L’Aimée," for an extended cruise along the Rhine. On the 24th, or 25th, of that month, Genevieve Lantelme somehow went overboard. Her body was found a few days later floating in the river.
Edwards was popularly believed to have been guilty of her murder, but we will never know whether or not this was true, or if it was merely a tragic accident, which was the official finding.
Mlle. Lantelme was only 24 years old at the time of her death.
Thanks Wikipedia, for most of our bio information!
This is a scarce and lovely image of this actress, and one steeped in notoriety and history. Wonderful posted condition, though with the stamp on its face.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!