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Sketch of Presumed Opera Singer Sold At Auction

Paris- A nearly 130-year-old sketch of a woman found in the vaults of the Opéra Garnier was sold at auction Friday for 4,000 euros.

The sketch was purchased by the de Chagny family, who alleged it depicts an ancestor, the famously reclusive opera singer Christine, the Countess de Chagny.

The sketch was unsigned and offered no information about its subject save for a name and a date scrawled in the bottom corner: "Christine, 1881." The sketch was among several other items found in a trunk in the opera's cellars last year.

In a statement issued following the purchase, Count Jérome de Chagny expressed the family's certainty of the identity of the woman.

"The name at the bottom clearly indicates that this is a sketch of Christine," de Chagny said, "The date corresponds with the time she was performing in the opera. If you look at photographs of her, the resemblance is uncanny. There is no doubt in my mind that we've found a true piece of history."

Christine de Changy was born Christine Noelle Daaë on May 4, 1860, the daughter of an impoverished violinist. Her debut as Maugerite in an 1880 production of Gounod's Faust was hailed as "an earth-shattering phenomenon," and Daaë was quickly catapulted to international fame.

Daaë's career, however, was marked by several strange events that continue to puzzle historians. Though a "magnificent stage presence," according to de Changy biographer Amelie Giry, Daaë was by nature an introvert.

"'She would leave a rehearsal the second it was over and head to her dressing room," Giry said, "She spent a hefty amount of time in that room, as a matter of fact. It was sort of strange, really. Here was this wonderful performer who's been hailed as one of the greatest sopranos of all time, and she was immensely uncomfortable with her fame. She's a mystery, and I think that's why people are still so drawn to her."

Daaë is as well known for that "mystery" as she is for her talent. She famously disappeared for two weeks in early 1881, and returned, according to Giry, a different woman.

"We still don't know what happened to her when she went missing," Giry said, "Whatever it was, it definitely changed her completely. She was jumpy, prone to constant weeping, she lost weight...something was definitely troubling her. And then there was that ring."

Daaë returned from her absence wearing a gold wedding band. No records exist of a marriage prior to her union with Raoul, the Count de Changy, and Daaë never mentioned the ring in interviews, though she was known to wear it at all times.

After her marriage to Raoul de Changy in 1883, the Countess rarely performed. She eventually left the theatre following the birth of her first son Charles two years later.

She died in 1918 and was buried at her request with the ring and a series of letters written to an unknown correspondent.

The de Chagny family believes Daaë wrote the letters to the artist who drew the auctioned portrait.

"We do know that they're addressed to an 'E,'" Jérome de Chagny said, "There's also a small letter 'E' on the back of the drawing. It's possible that he was the artist, and the two kept in touch after she sat for the portrait."

Whatever the case, The Count de Chagny expressed his gratitude that the sketch is in his family's possession once again.

"We're very fortunate that this was found," he said, "It's a great piece of family history and local history. She was an enigma, and having this sketch is almost like having a little piece of her. The artist, whoever he was, must have known her very well to have captured her in such a way."

LOL at fake journalism. Fabricating sure is fun! Plus, it makes it seem like this is some monumental and all-important piece instead of something I drew when I was watching the Discovery Channel yesterday.

Also, I know the hairdo is a little anachronistic, being more typical of Edwardian fashion versus late Victorian fashion, but, oh, well. Artistic liberties. THE END.

In a nutshell, here's Christine, Countess-of-Rothes-style: [link]

I love cameos way too much!

Description
Sketch of Presumed Opera Singer Sold At Auction

Paris- A nearly 130-year-old sketch of a woman found in the vaults of the Opéra Garnier was sold at auction Friday for 4,000 euros.

The sketch was purchased by the de Chagny family, who alleged it depicts an ancestor, the famously reclusive opera singer Christine, the Countess de Chagny.

The sketch was unsigned and offered no information about its subject save for a name and a date scrawled in the bottom corner: "Christine, 1881." The sketch was among several other items found in a trunk in the opera's cellars last year.

In a statement issued following the purchase, Count Jérome de Chagny expressed the family's certainty of the identity of the woman.

"The name at the bottom clearly indicates that this is a sketch of Christine," de Chagny said, "The date corresponds with the time she was performing in the opera. If you look at photographs of her, the resemblance is uncanny. There is no doubt in my mind that we've found a true piece of history."

Christine de Changy was born Christine Noelle Daaë on May 4, 1860, the daughter of an impoverished violinist. Her debut as Maugerite in an 1880 production of Gounod's Faust was hailed as "an earth-shattering phenomenon," and Daaë was quickly catapulted to international fame.

Daaë's career, however, was marked by several strange events that continue to puzzle historians. Though a "magnificent stage presence," according to de Changy biographer Amelie Giry, Daaë was by nature an introvert.

"'She would leave a rehearsal the second it was over and head to her dressing room," Giry said, "She spent a hefty amount of time in that room, as a matter of fact. It was sort of strange, really. Here was this wonderful performer who's been hailed as one of the greatest sopranos of all time, and she was immensely uncomfortable with her fame. She's a mystery, and I think that's why people are still so drawn to her."

Daaë is as well known for that "mystery" as she is for her talent. She famously disappeared for two weeks in early 1881, and returned, according to Giry, a different woman.

"We still don't know what happened to her when she went missing," Giry said, "Whatever it was, it definitely changed her completely. She was jumpy, prone to constant weeping, she lost weight...something was definitely troubling her. And then there was that ring."

Daaë returned from her absence wearing a gold wedding band. No records exist of a marriage prior to her union with Raoul, the Count de Changy, and Daaë never mentioned the ring in interviews, though she was known to wear it at all times.

After her marriage to Raoul de Changy in 1883, the Countess rarely performed. She eventually left the theatre following the birth of her first son Charles two years later.

She died in 1918 and was buried at her request with the ring and a series of letters written to an unknown correspondent.

The de Chagny family believes Daaë wrote the letters to the artist who drew the auctioned portrait.

"We do know that they're addressed to an 'E,'" Jérome de Chagny said, "There's also a small letter 'E' on the back of the drawing. It's possible that he was the artist, and the two kept in touch after she sat for the portrait."

Whatever the case, The Count de Chagny expressed his gratitude that the sketch is in his family's possession once again.

"We're very fortunate that this was found," he said, "It's a great piece of family history and local history. She was an enigma, and having this sketch is almost like having a little piece of her. The artist, whoever he was, must have known her very well to have captured her in such a way."

LOL at fake journalism. Fabricating sure is fun! Plus, it makes it seem like this is some monumental and all-important piece instead of something I drew when I was watching the Discovery Channel yesterday.

Also, I know the hairdo is a little anachronistic, being more typical of Edwardian fashion versus late Victorian fashion, but, oh, well. Artistic liberties. THE END.

In a nutshell, here's Christine, Countess-of-Rothes-style: [link]

I love cameos way too much!