It's usually around this time of year that I feel compelled to revisit the facinating biography of Gerald and Sara Murphy, who truly exemplified the Jazz Age in the best possible way. Born into wealthy, but stuffy, circumstances, they married and decamped for France. There they met up with old friends Cole and Linda Porter, who introduced them to the South of France. Gerald and Sara are, quite correctly, attributed with making vacationing on the French Rivera what it is today. Sean Combs, you owe them a huge thank you. In honor of summer, what better couple to discuss than those who actually set about making the idea of laying out in the sun and doing nothing chic?
The Murphys believed that living well was an art form in itself and spent a lot of time cultivating perfection in the quotidian. Gerald is attributed with saying "living well is the best revenge." And honestly their lifestyle at the time would have reeked plenty of vengeance.
The Murphys settled at a home they called Villa America in Antibes and set about entertaining pretty much everyone worth entertaining in France at the time, including the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, and Picasso. Gerald was an artist in his own right and produced stunning canvas which pre-date Pop Art by 3 decades.
Sadly, their amazing karma came to an end with the deaths of both of their young sons and the coming Depression, which forced Gerald to return to the US and take over the struggling family business, Mark Cross. (Naturally, he made it very chic again.)Interest in Gerald's art came again, but very near the end of his life. He died attended by Sara and their daughter. Ever the gentleman, his last words were "smelling salts for the ladies." Sara followed after, heartbroken to the end by the loss of her husband and sons.
The Murphys set a fine example for living well under all kinds of circumstances. Even after their return to America, their parties and zest for life were not completely dampened. And, honestly, who could be a better example this summer? Go out, enjoy, and make living well a personal art form!
11 comments:
Rah, rah!! Too bad gas prices are killing the party budget.. We'll prevail, as always, we just have to be a little more clever.
Interesting story. I'm now inspired to go to the French Riviera. Well, even more inspired, I should say. All in time...
I think you've already come up with lots of good party ideas! I'm so looking forward to next month.
Hooorah! Just seeing the picture makes me smile (and I pass by it everyday in the bar room.)
They are an inspiration, even to this day. It was amazing to visit the exhibit at Yale and see just how often the two of them turned up in works by the soon-to-be-mythically-famous who gravitated to them.
Mrs. E. and I set up a marvelous picnic at La Garoupe beach (we lived not far away) one summer and tried to live every day after as deeply as possible.
I will mix "the juice of a few flowers" this evening, as we dress for dinner out, in tribute to this post and as a reminder that the art of living well is alive and well.
E&E,
I am terribly jealous that you got to see the exhibit. It never made it's way to the Midwest. I do, however, have plans to purchase the exhibit book as soon as possible.
Do enjoy the "juice of a few flowers" this evening. I recently came upon a new drink recipe called "Flowers for Murphy". I must see if I can locate it again!
I have recently found a number of books on the Murphys, including one by their daughter. I will be spending the summer reading through them. I've done a couple of posts on them as well and love the picture you've used. So classic!
Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear more about the books because aside from Amanda Veill's and Calvin Trillin's biographies, I haven't been able to find much. I just love their style and can't get enough of them.
I found my way to you from Easy and Elegant and I'm so glad that I did. I found this post fascinating. You've really peaked my interest. I must go now. I'm off to the library site to look for this biography. I wish you a summer full of living well.
Lucy, the book (I Believe) is "Sara & Gerald." I recently retrieved my copy from my mother after two years... Just had time to re-read the introduction last night, and fell for them all over again.
http://www.amazon.com/Sara-Gerald-Villa-America-After/dp/0030698316/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216059385&sr=8-6
The cover says it all.
Relyn,
Thanks for stopping by! I'm excited to have found your blog.
E&E,
Thanks so much! I will add this to my Amazon must list immediately.
I lived for some time on the Cote d'Azur, lured there in part by dreams of the Fitzgeralds and the Murphies. I searched in vain for the Villa America, and thought I'd discovered it once, hidden amongst some trees in the grounds of a much larger estate overlooking La Garoupe plage.
Although it's many years since, there are still traces of how it was.
Thanks to them all, the revenge till lingers on....
We, too looked for the Villa America, although I read that it was in shambles and may have been demolished. Where were you Ms. Coward? We lived for a bit in St. Raphaël.
Post a Comment