Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff

Félix Saïd

Also known as: Felix Said, Felix Saïd, Félix Saïd

People · Mentioned
Show in diary 1 mention

Félix Saïd

Overview

Félix Saïd was a young Black servant whom the Bashkirtseffs brought from Nice to Paris in April 1882: «Nous avons amené de Nice un nègre nommé Felix Saïd, qui fait sensation» (094.0437, 23 April 1882, on the day's outing to the Bois de Boulogne). The Mon Journal t.14 index lists him as «Saïd Felix, domestique : 312». This is the only time the diary names him.

Marie's wording about race is her own and is translated as written (see footnote 100.0078.2 and the LAN note at 065.0549).

Identity uncertain

We do not know who he was beyond this one line, or how long he stayed. Two connections are possible, and neither is settled:
  • Fortuné Saïd («Chocolat»), the family's Black servant boy of 1873-78 (Chocolat; t.15 index «Said Fortuné [Chocolat], domestique chez les Bashkirtseff»), has the same surname. The diary does not say whether the two were related, or whether «Saïd» was a name given to both by whoever placed them.
  • Louis, the Black boy of about fifteen who in June 1883 has been with the family «depuis près d'un an» and whom Marie has rebaptised (Louis-Jules-René-Marie; 100.0078), might be the same boy under a baptismal name. Against it: a different first name, and «près d'un an» counts from about the summer of 1882, not from April. The «nègre» sent with a message in early 1883 (098.0377) could be either of them.

The «Félix» who disturbs Marie at her painting on 30 August 1882 (096/1882-08-30) is probably not him: the Mon Journal t.15 index has a separate «Felix (M.) : 70», a «Monsieur».

Sources checked: the diary for 1882-83 (carnets 094-100); the Mon Journal t.14 and t.15 indexes; the glossary entries CHOCOLAT and LOUIS_THIBAUDIN. If you can identify this person, we would be glad to hear from you.

References in Diary
  • 1882-04-23 (094.0437): brought from Nice to Paris.

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