Louis Crette
1858, 4 January
Rachel on her deathbed

Photograph, old duplicate
Private collection of Count Charles-André Colonna Walewski
https://colonnawalewski.ch/
 
L. Crette, photographer of the King of Sardinia, taken on January 4, 1858, the day after her death in Le Cannet, before putting into coffin.
 
This photograph, strikingly realistic, showing the emaciated features of the actress, on which we can read the photographer's signature and that of Sarah Félix, sister of the tragedy, served as a model for the famous drawing, very idealized and softened, of Frédérique O'Connell, widely distributed by the press and in gravure printing, which gave rise to a founding process for image rights.
 
LL/114437