Madame Adelina Patti - Gustave Doré
Theme : Art and Culture

Although born in Spain to Italian parents, soprano Adelina Patti (1843 - 1919) is considered Welsh by adoption. In 1878, she bought Craig-y-Nos Castle, situated beside the River Tawe in Abercraf, at the head of the Swansea Valley, where she lived until her death. This portrait of the diva is one of a number executed by flamboyant French artist Gustave Doré (1832 - 1883) who "according to gossip, [ ] was so much in love with Patti that he threatened to kill himself in her boudoir if she would not have him..." (Cone, J.F., Adelina Patti: Queen of Hearts, p.82) His love however was not reciprocated and their friendship remained platonic. Doré also enjoyed the friendship of Swansea benefactor, Richard Glynn Vivian who purchased this unfinished portrait from amongst a range of works located in the artist's Paris studio after his death.

This Item is located at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in the Permanent Collection