introduction
March 30, 2022 marks the 150th birthday of Misia Sert (1872-1950), who played such an important role in the cultural life of Paris in the first half of the 20th century that she was nicknamed the “Queen of Paris.” Indeed, for half a century, Misia embodied the ideal of the elegant, witty, intelligent, sophisticated, charismatic Parisian. Her life has become a legend, the subject of biographies, novels, articles, plays, exhibitions, treatises, and videos.
Pierre Bonnard, Missia Reclining on a Sofa, 1910. Image source: Wikimedia
Franz Liszt admired the prodigy's piano playing, Gabriel Fauré later gave her piano lessons and predicted a brilliant career for her, Auguste Renoir, Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vierre, Félix Vallon, Toulouse-Lautrec, painted her in her youth in various poses, in various places: Missia at the piano, at the dressing table, at the dining table, Missia lying on a sofa, immersed in her dreams, Missia in the garden, at the theater, at the opera, at the circus. Missia from behind, her back, the back of her head, Missia from the front, Missia in profile.
Stéphane Mallarmé wrote her a poem every Christmas about a Japanese fan, Proust was inspired by her for the character of Madame Verdourne, Colette kept in touch with her. Sergei Diaghilev supported her in his revolutionary ballet productions and saw her as his twin, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc, and Erik Satie dedicated works to her, Pablo Picasso admired her and her taste, and fashion designer Coco Chanel , who, thanks to her, broke into the world of fashion, was her close friend.
Let's dive into the fascinating life story of Missia, pianist, model, muse, socialite, mediator and mediator, talent hunter and midwife, patron of the arts, and a huge cultural icon. We'll see under what circumstances the woman who for about fifty years set the tone in determining good taste was born, what life did to her and what she did to them.
A four-part article
In the first part of the series of articles, Part I: Missia Godewska, Childhood, Youth, First Marriage , we learn about the dramatic circumstances of her birth, her childhood, which was happy with her grandmother and unhappy with her father, her marriage and her activity among the important painters and writers of the period within the framework of the magazine, “Le Revue Blanche”, of her first husband, Theda Nathanson, and his two brothers. During this period, when she was Madame Nathanson, Missia embodied the ideal of the elegant Parisian, a reader of the famous magazine, which covered a variety of topics: literature, painting, music, philosophy, theater, art criticism, and burning political and social issues.
In the second part of the series of articles, Part 2: Madame Edwards Gets Divorced , we will be astonished by the circumstances of her divorce and second marriage, surprised by the circumstances of her second divorce, we will follow her distress and return to life after her meeting with an enthusiastic painter from Barcelona named José Sert. We will see how this led to another important meeting, with Sergei Diaghilev, the renowned ballet producer. We will discuss her special relationship with the one who called her “my sister” and her unwavering support for the man and his enterprise.
In the third part of the series of articles, Part 3: Leading and Supporting, Supporting and Reigning , we will look with amazement at her heroism during World War I, when she collected wounded people on the front lines, and we will continue to watch her sit on the throne of Parisian cultural life, leading and supporting, supporting and reigning.
In the fourth part of the series of articles, Part 4: The Second Half of Life , we will see how her third marriage ended, in a remarkably similar way to her second marriage, and we will follow her last years until her death, accompanied by José Sert's former secretary, Bolos, who infiltrated her life, to whom she bequeathed her apartment and all her possessions.
You are invited, therefore, to click on the link, here above, under the title “A four-part article,” to Part A, then move on to Parts B, C, and D. Part A will lead you to Part B, and so on. At the end of the reading, you are invited to return here to follow her places of residence and the sites of her life events in Paris.
Misia Sert, 1898, photo: Alfred Nathanson, Theda's brother, her husband at the time. Photo source: Wikimedia
Missia Film Route in Paris
After you have read the articles and become familiar with Missia's fascinating life, you can walk in her footsteps and view the streets and houses where she lived, the sites where important scenes in her life took place.
Rue de Prony
In 1880, Cyprien Godewski, a sculptor and Misia's father, moved with his second wife, Mathilde Nathanson, from Warsaw to Paris and settled in a private mansion (a townhouse) with a studio they built on Rue de Peroni, near Parc Monceau . There, Cyprien Godewski brought his three children, Misia and her two brothers, from their grandmother's house in Belgium.
Les Sœurs du Sacré-Cœur de Jésus, Hôtel de Biron, 77 Rue de Varenne (actually, Musée Rodin)
In 1882, Missia was transferred to a boarding school for nuns, at the Hôtel Biron, the house of virtue where the Rodin Museum is now located . The present-day museum was from 1820 to 1904 a boarding school for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an educational institution for girls from high society. Missia stayed there for seven years. Once a month, she was allowed to leave to spend a vacation on the Rue de Perron.
Théâtre de La Bodinière, 18 Rue Saint Lazare
In 1892, Missia gave a concert at the theater “Le Baudinière”, at 18 rue Saint-Lazare. The young Missia then played waltzes by the composer and poet Maurice Rollinat, but after this first concert she was not interested in continuing to perform as a professional pianist. Forty-one years later, she gave a second concert with Marcel Mayer (1897-1958) with one and only goal – to give a boost to the career of the young pianist, who indeed broke through and succeeded amazingly. Marcel Mayer is one of the greatest pianists in France.
Hôtel de Ségur, 9 Rue Saint Florentin
In 1893, Misia married Theda Nathanson and the couple settled in the Hôtel Particular on Rue Saint-Florentin, near the Place de la Concorde.
Avenue du Bois de Boulogne 60 (actually, Avenue Foch 74)
In 1895, Alexander Nathanson, Theda's brother, and his wife Olga moved to the Hôtel Particular, in today's Avignon, and celebrated a housewarming party with plenty of alcohol.
244 rue de Rivoli
Missia's second husband, Edwards, made available to her, in 1905, a luxurious apartment at 244 Rue de Rivoli, overlooking the Tuileries Garden.
Hôtel du Rhin, 4 Place Vendôme
At the same time, she had a suite on the ground floor of the luxurious Hôtel de Rennes on Place Vendôme.
29 Quai Voltaire
About two years after her divorce from Edwards, in 1911, Missia moved into an apartment on Walter Wharf.
Hôtel Le Meurice, 228 Rue de Rivoli
During the war, Misia preferred to stay at the Hotel Le Maris, which was sufficiently heated. In her apartment, she suffered, like most of the residents, from the cold. After her marriage to José Sert, in 1920, the couple took a suite in the same hotel.
Église Saint Roch de Paris, 296 Rue Saint Honoré
On August 2, 1920, Misia and José were married, after twelve years of living together, in the Church of Saint Roch, at 296 Rue Sainte Honore.
3 Rue de Constantine
After her separation from José Sert, in 1928, Misia settled in a spacious apartment on Rue de Constantin near the Invalides , where she lived until 1946.
252 rue de Rivoli
After José Sert's death, Misia moved into his luxurious apartment at 252 Rue de Rivoli, which she inherited from him, along with all its contents. She spent her final years in this apartment until her death.
Église Notre Dame de l'Assomption de Paris, Place Maurice Barrès
The funeral service for Missia was held at the Polish Church on Maurice Barres Square, located at the intersection of Rue Saint-Honoré and Rue Cambon.
Comments
-The main source for my series of articles is the biography of a pair of American pianists written in English:
Arthur Gold, Robert Fizdale, Misia: The Life of Misia Sert, Macmillan, 1980
-I read the biography in its French translation:
Arthur Gold, Robert Fizdale, Misia: la vie de Misia Sert, Poche, 1984
-I recommend this article , in French, even to those who do not read the language, which includes rare photos and photographs of Misia and its surroundings.
FAQ
When is Missia Sert's 150th birthday?
Why was the film Missia called “The Queen of Paris”?
Who painted the portrait of Miss Sart?
More on the subject
Ruth Shimoni:
I really like your writing, so clear.
Logical, rich in imagery and descriptions.
I would like to add a few sentences about the biography cited in the note. I read other sources for the article, I listened, I watched, but the book of the American pianists is the best biography available today.
Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale were an American pianist duo (from Jewish families from Russia), on and off the stage. They had a successful career and performed in sought-after concerts in the US and Europe.
In the late 1970s, Gold suffered from hand problems and the duo stopped performing. They began writing articles about gastronomy and also had a food show on television. At the same time, they became biographers.
Missia Sert's life, as we have seen, from the day she was born in St. Petersburg in 1872 to the day she died in Paris in 1950, was a series of dramas and melodramas, and Gold and Fizdale's biography reads like a novel. The two musicians delve deeply into the intricacies of her life and minutely analyze the events and processes that shaped them.
At the end of the book, they tell of the surprising coincidences that befell Misia's associates. Although they did not see Misia herself face to face, their meetings and research illuminate for the reader the character of Misia as if she were there. I read the book twice with excitement, and my admiration for this special woman grew.
I highly recommend reading the biography to dive into the rich period and to learn about the diverse works of Missia Sert. All of this and more can be read in detail in the biography of the two pianists, written in an excellent, clear and rich style, a fitting tribute, the best that exists today, to the special woman, a genius in her own way, Missia Sert.
https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/sur-les-docks/misia-sert-la-devoreuse-de-genie-9728846
I recommend this fascinating treatise by France Culture for those who understand French.
Dolly Rosenberg
admin
Yesterday, I read all four of your excellent articles, dear Orna, on your mission, one after the other, breathlessly. They are simply captivating, fascinating, and wonderfully written!
Ruthi Shimoni:
A wonderful, in-depth, fascinating article – the kind that almost only Orna Lieberman can produce.
Orna Lieberman:
Thank you very much, Ruth. In recent days I have renovated and expanded it, added sections, photographs, images, edited, corrected.
Ruthi Shimoni:
I couldn't stop reading!
There is no one like you in depth, detail, and precision – a stunning article that sheds light and connects to so many branches of culture.
Orna Lieberman:
Thank you very much. Since this is the second time you're reading it, your compliment is doubled... Thank you twice!
Eldad Gatt:
What's left for me? To be jealous of you.