"The Oscar Wilde that entered Napoleon Sarony's New York studio in 1882 was fresh-faced, yet to pen the plays and singular novel that would make his name. But he was no unknown quantity. As captured by the photographer, Wilde was an aesthetic: his outfit of velvet jacket, silk knee breeches, and slippers crowned with grosgrain bows cutting the figure of a dandy who had captivated London society with his keen wit."
"Sarony's images, eventually from 1882 to 1883, cast Wilde in the public imagination as a sartorial icon radiating charisma and intelligence. They even left one Midwest journalist to ponder if the young men of Milwaukee, upon viewing the pictures, would "fear that their calves are wanting in symmetry." Now, these defining photographs are back in the spotlight after landing on the auction block at numbering dozens Bonhams."
Oscar Wilde visited Napoleon Sarony's New York studio in 1882 wearing a velvet jacket, silk knee breeches, and slippers with grosgrain bows, embodying the aesthetic dandy who had captivated London society. Sarony's portraits from 1882–83 framed Wilde as a sartorial icon radiating charisma and intelligence and prompted a Midwest journalist's quip about Milwaukee men's calves. The images reappeared at Bonhams on February 18, the 125th anniversary of Wilde's death, within a sale of objects, letters, and manuscripts that realized £1.6 million. The items derived from collector Jeremy Mason. Two Sarony cabinet cards sold for £7,040 and £6,144, surpassing estimates; a 1900 deathbed photograph led the lots.
Read at Artnet News
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