Gismonda

Gismonda
Colour lithograph, 1894

Set in mediaeval Greece, Gismonda was the first of Victorien Sardou’s (1831–1908) work that Sarah Bernhardt produced, directed and starred in herself. Here, Mucha portrayed her as an exotic Byzantine noblewoman wearing a splendid gown, with an orchid headdress and a palm branch in her hand. The pose was taken from Gismonda’s Palm Sunday procession, the climax of the play.