The subject of this cabinet card portrait is Marie Roze (1846-1926) a French operatic soprano. She was born in Paris and at the age of 12, she was sent to England to be educated for two years. Her next school was the Paris Conservatoire. In 1865, she received first prize in singing. That same year, she made her debut at the Opera-Comique. Despite being only sixteen years of age, she met great success there which resulted in her being engaged to perform several times at the Paris Opera. It is believed that the opera “Carmen” was written by Bizet with Marie Roze in mind. Roze refused the role because she felt it was indecent. In 1875, she sang in “Elijah” at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1876, she began a ten year stint working for the Carl Rosa Opera Company. She participated in their United Kingdom tours. By then, she was performing in “Carmen”. She made her American debut in 1878 and later toured the United States with the Carl Rosa Opera Company from 1883 to 1889. She was a popular singer in the UK and in the United States. She was a proficient singer in the English language. In 1890, she established a music school in Paris. She taught singing there. Her farewell tour occurred in 1894. Marie Roze’s first marriage was to the American operatic bass, Julius E. Perkins. They had a son named Raymond (1875-1920) who was a theatre composer and conductor. Roze’s second husband was Henry Mapleson, son of a noted impresario in London and New York. Roze recieved a number of medals for her actions during the invasion of France by Germany. Upon the death of Maria Roze, the French government bought two of her portraits and had them hung in the Paris Opera Garnier Library and the Museum of the Philharmonie de Paris. Roze was a sitter in 10 portraits in England’s National Portrait Gallery. SOLD
This cabinet card is likely a family portrait. How everyone in the image is related, is anybody’s guess. The family members are well dressed. They don’t look like they’re having fun. In fact, this is a very serious group. This photograph was taken by the Astoria Photo Studio, located in Long Island City, New York. An ad for the studio was printed in “The Daily Star” (1920). The advertisement copy declares that the studio was established in 1871. Long Island City is located along the East River in New York City’s borough of Queens. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 