to the Salon of
J. William Fosdick (1858–1937)
Featuring his
1898 Panel, Subject Unknown
(Possibly Sarah Bernhardt)

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Untitled, By J. William Fosdick, 1898 Pyrography on framed wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of the owner

Untitled, detail of the signature, recto Inscription recto reads: J.W. Fosdick. 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of the owner

Untitled, detail of the placement of the signature, recto Inscription recto reads: J.W. Fosdick. 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of the owner

VIEW ONE Back of wood panel, 61 in. by 38 in. Digital image courtesy of the owner

VIEW TWO Back of wood panel, 61 in. by 38 in. Digital image courtesy of the owner

VIEW THREE Back of wood panel, 61 in. by 38 in. Digital image courtesy of the owner

Sarah Bernhardt, Photograph of the famous actress in costume Digital image courtesy of Nancy Stepien

Sarah Bernhardt, Detail of Fosdick Portrait and two photographs of the famous actress in costume Research with digital images by Nancy Stepien

Sarah Bernhardt, Photograph of the famous actress lying in coffin bed Research with digital image by Nancy Stepien

Sarah Bernhardt, Photograph of the famous actress lying in coffin bed Research with digital image by Nancy Stepien

Sarah Bernhardt, Her Funeral in 1923 Photographs of the famous actress being laid to rest Research and digital image provided by Nancy Stepien

Untitled, Framed panel and detail of the frame Subject believed to be Sarah Bernhardt in her stage portrayal of Joan of Arc By J. William Fosdick, 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of Nancy Stepien

Untitled, Details of the two decorative shields and showing part of the frame on left Subject believed to be Sarah Bernhardt in her stage portrayal of Joan of Arc By J. William Fosdick, 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital images courtesy of Nancy Stepien

Untitled, Detail view of the left shield with a decorative "coat of arms" bearing an image of a bird with the face of a woman wearing a crown Subject believed to be Sarah Bernhardt in her stage portrayal of Joan of Arc By J. William Fosdick, 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of Nancy Stepien

Untitled, detail of the central figure Believed to be Sarah Bernhardt in her stage portrayal of Joan of Arc By J. William Fosdick, 1898 Pyrography on wood panel, 61 in. wide by 38 in. high Digital image courtesy of the owner

American art collector Nancy Stepien from Ohio acquired this beautiful 1898 wood panel by J. William Fosdick at an Ohio antiques store more than 25 years ago. The title is unknown. Nancy describes this large panel (it is over five feet wide) as quite heavy. She notes that "The wreath around the portrait of the [subject] is 24 inches wide." She agrees with the opinion of an antiques dealer she consulted, that this panel is likely the portrait of Sarah Bernhardt and probably was commissioned and owned by her, as well. As of April 2013, she has indicated that it is available for purchase.

The E-Museum was aware of this truly mysterious panel, as it was featured in a 1900 article in Puritan Magazine entitled Burnt Wood Decoration and exhibited at this link. Unfortunately, that article failed, both in the text as well as the caption for this panel, to identify the title or subject of the portrait, or the panel's owner at that time, so almost nothing additional is known of its provenance.

Not only is the panel, which is about 2 inches thick, extremely heavy, Nancy Stepien reports that it has very large chains on the back that are bolted onto the panel. Because this panel was mounted in such a strange way, there has been much conjecture as to the possible reasons for this. It is not readily apparent how it was used, and the E-Museum has exhibited three views above of the back of the panel, including the chains and what appear to be random numbers written there, in the hope that someone will recognize this type of mounting and how it might be used, and come forward with some very welcome suggestions.

The owner, Nancy Stepien, is convinced that Fosdick's panel likely was used to cover a wardrobe trunk or perhaps the dramatic coffin (shown in two views above) that the actress kept in her bedroom and actually slept in "at least once" according to one account. The grouping of photos above showing Sarah Bernhardt represents research done by Nancy Stepien to demonstrate the likelihood that Sarah Bernhardt is the subject of the Fosdick panel. The research ends with an actual news photograph of that time showing a throng of mourners following her funeral procession in Paris.

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If you have any questions or any information regarding this decorative panel from 1898, or other works by J. William Fosdick, please e-mail the owner Nancy Stepien and the E-Museum Curator.

You are leaving the J. William Fosdick Salon
Featuring his 1898 Panel (Subject unknown)

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where there is a large section
with many exhibits dedicated to J. William Fosdick

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