Listen to co-curator Philip Palmer discuss Belle Greene’s letters to Bernard Berenson and hear actor Andi Bohs read a passage from one of them.
Theodore C. Marceau (1859–1922)
Series of portraits of Belle da Costa Greene, May 1911
Gelatin silver prints
Biblioteca Berenson, I Tatti, the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies; Bernard and Mary Berenson Papers, Personal Photographs: Box 1 Friends (Large Format)
PHILIP: In the winter of 1909 Belle Greene met the love of her life, the art historian Bernard Berenson. They enjoyed a sweeping romance that would eventually cool into a friendly relationship between art world colleagues, corresponding for four decades in thousands of pages of personal writing. Greene destroyed the letters she received from Berenson, but Bernard saved all of Belle’s letters to him. They are now preserved just outside of Florence, Italy at I Tatti, the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. The Morgan and I Tatti have created a new digital resource for the study of these letters, which truly highlight Belle Greene’s voice and personality. In the following early letter, she revels in the beauty of nature using a lyrical prose style.
ANDI:
Tuxedo – Easter Sunday
Sir – I embrace you! –
This is a most glorious Easter day – radiant with sunshine, and the world – like myself, is bubbling over with joy – This is one of the days which proves that I am a pagan pure and simple –
We had a most glorious horseback ride this afternoon – were out for over two hours – and if you have ever been here you know what a glorious country it is for riding –
Last night we had a real old fashioned barn-dance at the Higgins’ which was lots of fun – and tomorrow we are going off on a motor picnic. I know all this sounds very giddy and foolish to you oh! wise and learned Man – but the Spring has gotten into my blood and I am lost to all but reckless gayety. I feel as if I were the re-incarnation of the original bacchante and want nothing in the world but to laugh & sing and dance & be spoiled – You know I dearly love to be petted and spoiled – It is my greatest weakness – and I suppose I really ought to try – (at least) to overcome it – but I don’t –
[...]
What fun it would be to have you here – to go out into the woods – with all their promise of blooms with all their fresh colours washed by the dew before the dawn – to talk when we pleased, to walk when we pleased – sit down when we pleased – then “loaf on up the hill” – Nature has me in her bonds today and holds me with a grip of steel from which I have no desire to break away – I went out early this morning before anyone was down – and was all alone with the sunlight and a little stream of sparkling water that runs through the grounds, it was a curious feeling! a sense of something more. the water was more to one than water and the sun – than mere sun – the gleaming rays of the water in my hand held me for a moment, the touch of the water gave me something from itself. A moment, the gleam was gone, the water flowing away – but I had had them. I had received from them their beauty they had given me of their silent mystery – and I thought of you – dear – of the fleeting hours I had spent with you – and they too like the water & sunshine had flown away – but the beauty and mystery of them remain and in my thoughts are multiplied a thousandfold