Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff

Berthe Boyd (Mme Lancaster-Johnstone)

Also known as: Berthe, Berthe Boyd, Mlle Boyd, Boyd, Georges, Mme Lancaster-Johnstone

Person people/recurring Comprehensive Updated: 2026-05-24
Show in diary 187 mentions

Research Status: Comprehensive Last Updated: 2026-05-24 Diary Coverage: Carnets 000, 003-004, 006, 008-009, 011, 017, 019-024, 031, 034, 038, 040, 048, 050, 055, 064, 066-069, 072, 074-095 (189+ references)

Identity

Berthe Boyd was an English girl from an aristocratic Anglo-Irish family whom Marie first met in Baden-Baden around 1870. She became one of Marie's longest-running companions, appearing across the full span of the diary from 1870 to 1882 -- a relationship lasting over twelve years. Per Kernberger (2013), Berthe eloped with Robert Lancaster-Johnstone in 1878.

The Boyd Family

  • Mother: Mme Boyd -- ran the family's social life in Paris; hosted soirees and matinees
  • Sister: Blanche Boyd -- married Lord Henry Paget (future Marquis of Anglesey) in January 1874; died before 1878, when Paget appears as "le veuf de Blanche Boyd"
  • Sister: Mme Yorke (also called Madame York) -- participated in masked adventures alongside Berthe and Marie in January 1878
  • Sister: Edith Boyd -- mentioned in passing
  • Nationality: English, with strong connections to the British aristocratic community on the Continent
  • Social profile: "Several ravishing older sisters" who were "tenant le haut du pave a Bade" (dominating society in Baden-Baden); connected to aristocratic families across European resorts

Chronological Arc

Phase 1: Baden-Baden Childhood (c. 1869-1870)

Marie's foundational memory. In her 1884 retrospective (carnet 000), Marie recalls children's groups near the casino -- "separate groups" sorted by family status. She "immediately distinguished the chic group" and "had only one dream: to be part of it."

"Une petite fille qui s'appelait Berthe vint me parler. J'en fus si heureuse que je dis des betises et que tout le groupe se moqua outrageusement de moi." (000.0026)

Berthe, age 12, was English and "connected with all the children of aristocratic families who knew her family. Mine knew no one and wallowed in roulette and trente-et-quarante." The Boyd family's social capital versus the Bashkirtseffs' gambling habits became Marie's first conscious experience of class exclusion.

Berthe had a 13-year-old "sweetheart" named Remy de Gonzales Moreno. Marie stole Remy's attentions -- "il abandonne Berthe et devient mon adorateur" (004.0017) -- establishing a pattern of romantic rivalry that would define their relationship.

The Franco-Prussian War (July 1870) drove the family from Baden-Baden. Marie prayed nightly: "Mon Dieu, faites que je sois amie avec Berthe et que j'aie des cavaliers qui me fassent la cour" (000.0032).

Phase 2: Nice -- Romantic Rivalry (1873-1874)

Berthe reappears in Nice in the Bashkirtseffs' social orbit. Both girls fixate on the Duke of Hamilton. Berthe tells Marie "comment le duc l'aime" and claims "Hamilton l'epousera absolument" (008.0350). Marie is devastated but competitive: "Qui l'aura? That is the question" (004).

Marie's mother defines Berthe memorably: "jolie comme un ange, espiegle et grossiere comme un diable, porte une canne et marche une jambe eloignee de l'autre" (008.0353) -- pretty as an angel, mischievous and coarse as the devil, carries a cane and walks with legs wide apart.

Marie recalls seeing Berthe with Hamilton on a balcony at a ball in Baden-Baden: "il se moquait d'elle" (006.0110). Among Hamilton's racehorses, Marie notices one named "Berthe" and smiles through tears (017.0134).

Phase 3: Nice and Paris -- Acquaintanceship Without Friendship (1875-1877)

In November 1875, Marie visits Berthe in Paris: "nous sommes toutes les deux sur un drole de pied, pas d'amitie comme entre jeunes filles, nous sommes de simples connaissances" (050.0101) -- not friendship as between girls, but mere acquaintances.

They gossip about mutual connections -- Sommier, Pertusati, the Gonzales family. Marie observes the social snobbery cascade: "J'ai parle a Berthe de Robenson, Berthe en fait fi, les Gonzales font fi de Berthe. Ils font fi les uns des autres. N'est-ce pas drole?" (050.0164).

By late 1876, Berthe visits Marie regularly in Paris: "Berthe a ete chez moi, cette chere petite" (067.0182). In autumn 1877, the Boyd family becomes socially important as Marie's gateway to Parisian high society.

Phase 4: Paris -- The Masked Adventures (January-February 1878)

The most vivid period. Berthe and the Boyds become Marie's companions in a series of masked escapades centered on Paul de Cassagnac, the Bonapartist journalist.

Daily life together: Berthe comes to Julian's atelier to draw alongside Marie. Mme Boyd and Berthe push Marie to take Berthe to the studio -- Marie worries about the nude model: "Le modele nu; j'ai prevenu et beaucoup parle des bains de mer et du calecon. Berthe m'assure qu'elle n'est pas prude" (077, Jan 1).

Balls and society: The Boyds host dinners for Marie and Dina, provide chaperonage through Mme Yorke, and introduce Marie to English society in the Faubourg Saint-Germain. Marie observes: "en general les Boyd se placent bien" (077, Jan 17). But she resents being chaperoned by Berthe: "Ce n'est pas mon role que d'etre chaperonnee par Berthe... Berthe qui est bete me prend pour telle" (077, Jan 17).

The Cassagnac visits: The group of five women (Marie, Dina, Berthe, Yorke, Mme de Daillens) visit Cassagnac's apartment in masks. Cassagnac gives each a codename -- Berthe becomes "Georges" (the "satisfied and sceptical" one). The Boyds "au bal de l'Opera ont ete pincees, touchees, embrassees... et tout en racontant cela, elles dansaient le cancan" (077, Jan 28).

The Unmasking Catastrophe: On January 29, 1878, Berthe impulsively unmasks before Cassagnac: "Devinez vite qui je suis, dit Berthe, j'ai tres chaud... la folle, la bete, l'idiote a ote son masque" (077, Jan 29). Marie is furious -- this ruins the anonymous game and their monthly masked visits. "Je ne lui pardonnerai jamais le masque chez Paul de Cassagnac. Jamais de la vie" (079, Mar 17). For days she fumes: "Berthe vient toujours dessiner avec moi, et je suis de plus en plus fachee pour sa betise de dimanche soir" (077, Jan 31).

Physical description: Marie notes in February 1878: "Berthe est jolie, tres jolie. Petite, assez mal faite mais jolie" (078, Feb 4).

Berthe in love: Throughout January 1878, Berthe is "amoureuse de son bras" -- her English escort -- "et veut l'epouser" (077, Jan 30). Marie observes this with detached pragmatism: "Puisqu'elle est heureuse de cela... qu'elle le fasse."

Phase 5: Marriage and Scandal (1878-1881)

Per Kernberger (2013), Berthe eloped with Robert Lancaster-Johnstone in early 1878 -- the "bras anglais" from the diary. By May 1878: "Berthe qui est mariee qui est a Londres a recu une invitation, et moi je n'en ai pas" (080.0243). Berthe visits Paris with her husband: "Berthe et son mari et Arthur Foster... ont ete ici" (080, May 27). Mme Boyd is furious: "Mme Boyd parle encore toujours de Berthe et de sa perfidie" (080, May 20).

The marriage quickly sours. By April 1879, Berthe confides about her unhappy marriage to Marie: her husband frequents the demi-monde and involves Berthe in that lifestyle (085, Apr 29).

By March 1881, scandal erupts: "Tout le monde dit qu'elle s'est declassee et qu'a Nice on l'a vue avec des cocottes au theatre... elle veut quitter son mari, se moque des convenances et vante le petit Blanc" (091, Mar 27). Marie finds it "si affreux."

In December 1881, Marie initially refuses to see her: "Berthe revient. Apres tous ses naufrages. Non, je ne veux pas la voir, elle ne m'a jamais fait que du mal, elle est menteuse, mauvaise et pas meme amusante avec tout cela" (094, Dec 7). But days later Berthe arrives "en landau a roues jaunes, avec une belle livree" -- she has reconciled with her family, and the Marquis of Anglesey (Blanche's ex-husband, now remarried) is rehabilitating her socially, "la presentant partout" (094, Dec 14). Marie finds Berthe's luck infuriating: "Il y a des etres qui ont de la chance."

Berthe also spreads rumors that Marie is at death's door -- "la charmante Berthe le raconte partout" -- which Marie furiously denies while recovering from illness (094, Dec 29).

Phase 6: Final References (1882)

The last mention: June 1882, Marie recalls an adventure "il y a trois ans quand Berthe et moi accompagnees de Bojidar avons explore le quartier latin, il neigeait, il faisait froid" (095, Jun 8). By this point Berthe remains in the orbit -- "des drames sans queue ni tete" -- but the relationship has settled into resigned familiarity.

Marie's Assessment of Berthe

Marie's feelings toward Berthe oscillate between affection, contempt, jealousy, and grudging companionship. Key self-analyses:

On their non-friendship (October 1880): "Nous n'avons jamais ete liees mais se connaitre depuis dix ans et n'avoir pas d'aversion physique l'une pour l'autre, cela cree une sorte d'amitie qui n'en est pas une. Du reste je suis neutre, elle vient c'est bon; elle ne vient pas, c'est encore bon" (090.0158).

On Berthe's usefulness (May 1880): "En un instant je pardonne tout a Berthe et pendant cinq minutes l'aime de vraie amitie" -- but only because Berthe brings news of a potential Salon medal (088, May 4).

On their similarity: Marie recognizes that she and Berthe share "les memes desirs, les memes fantaisies" (006.0110) and repeatedly finds herself in competition with her -- first over Remy, then over Hamilton, later over social position.

Role in Marie's Emotional Life

Berthe serves multiple functions in the diary:

1. Mirror and rival: From childhood, Berthe reflects Marie's own ambitions back at her. They want the same men, the same social position, the same adventures. 2. Social connector: The Boyd family provides Marie's entry into Parisian society -- balls, the Faubourg Saint-Germain, diplomatic events, masked escapades. 3. Foil: Berthe's impulsiveness (the unmasking), her scandalous marriage, her declassement all serve as cautionary tales for Marie. 4. Measuring stick: Marie constantly compares her fortune to Berthe's -- envying her luck when things go well, feeling superior when Berthe stumbles.

Relationship to Other Figures

  • Duke of Hamilton: Shared romantic obsession; Berthe claimed he would marry her; one of his racehorses was named "Berthe"
  • Remy de Gonzales Moreno: Berthe's childhood sweetheart whom Marie stole at Baden-Baden
  • Paul de Cassagnac: Participated in masked visits; her codename was "Georges"
  • Blanc: After her marriage failed, Berthe was linked to "le petit Blanc" romantically
  • Mme Yorke: Berthe's sister; co-conspirator in the masked adventures
  • Blanche Boyd: Berthe's sister who married Lord Henry Paget
  • Dina: Marie's cousin and co-participant in the Boyd social circle
  • Bojidar: Marie's cousin; accompanied Berthe and Marie on Latin Quarter adventures

Historical Context

The English Colony

The Boyd family belonged to the English expatriate community that maintained a significant presence in Nice, Baden-Baden, and Paris throughout the 1870s. English aristocratic families frequently wintered on the Riviera and summered at German spas, creating an interconnected social network across European resorts. The Boyds' social connections -- knowing "all the aristocratic families" -- contrasted painfully with the Bashkirtseffs' marginal position as wealthy but socially unconnected Russian newcomers.

Marriage Market

Berthe's trajectory illustrates the precariousness of women's social position in this era. Blanche Boyd's marriage to Lord Paget (1874) was a triumph; Berthe's elopement with Lancaster-Johnstone (1878) was a disaster. Within three years of marriage, Berthe was "seen with cocottes" in Nice, separated from her husband, and effectively declassed -- only to be rehabilitated through family connections. The speed with which a woman could rise or fall in society through marriage is one of the diary's recurring themes.

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