Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff

Mme Kanchine

Also known as: Mme Kanchine, Kanchine, Mme Kanckine, les Kanchine, Mlle Kanchine

People · Aristocracy
Show in diary 22 mentions

Mme Kanchine

A Russian lady in Paris in the early 1880s, with two daughters, who received on Sunday evenings at 11 rue Murillo (098.0208). Marie's mother and aunt go to her house from January 1883; Marie herself goes only reluctantly. Her first name, husband and family could not be established: the name Kanchine (also written "Kanckine" in the manuscript) does not turn up in any source found, and the spelling may be a transliteration of Kantchine or similar.

Marie and the Kanchines
  • 24 May 1873 (005.0036). At Geneva after a circus visit her mother introduces her to "les filles de Mme Kanchine"; the elder looks at her a great deal. On 25 May (005.0046) a "petit Kanchine" is in the carriage on a riding excursion. Whether this is the same family is not known; the RSR comment of 2 October 2026 judged the "petit Kanchine" to be a child of another household.
  • 18 December 1880 (090.0409). Wodzinski has been dismissed by Mme Kanchine; he takes it with good humour and regrets the young girl but can no longer think much good of her after "sa trahison". (The same Mme Kanchine is evidently also in Paris in 1880. Wodzinski was a tutor or suitor in her household; the diary does not say which.)
  • 18 April 1881 (091.0490). Among the many Russians at a gathering: "la Basilevitch, les Kanchine, Engelhardt".
  • 13 January 1883 (098.0007). In an inserted note: Mme Kanchine "qui nous avait lâchées" asked to be invited, and came with her daughter and other Russian ladies known to Mme Engelhardt.
  • 27 January 1883 (098.0173). Russians who spoke ill of the Bashkirtseffs now come to them, "comme les Kanchine".
  • 28 January 1883 (098.0208, 098.0209). The Bashkirtseffs go to the Kanchines' Sunday evening: "elles sont venues trois fois, elles reçoivent le dimanche soir, ce sont des Russes bien", 11 rue Murillo, no dancing, tea and a lady singing. Mme Kanchine at once introduces Marie to the elderly Molinari and Texier "comme à une femme supérieure"; Marie knows only vaguely that Molinari writes and nothing about Texier, but gets through on vanity.
  • 4 February 1883 (098.0282, 098.0283). Mme Kanchine drives with them to the Bois and on visits. Marie's verdict: "une vieille rosse à perruque blonde dont la fille aînée vient de se marier et qui a une autre fille jeune et insignifiante", "extravagante un peu et surtout intelligente", seeking an intelligent circle.
  • 6 February 1883 (098.0298). Mme and Mlle Kanchine are at the dinner at the Grand Hôtel.
  • 11 and 18 February 1883 (098.0322, 098.0351). A dinner at her house (the Molinaris, the comte de la Ferrière, M. Garanay); then another evening with the Gavinis and Randouins, where Marie is well dressed and "il n'y a que des vieux qui m'encensent".
  • 15 March 1883 (098.0498). She is among the visitors on the day Marie's Salon picture leaves her studio.
  • 1 April 1883 (099.0018). "Nous allons ce soir chez Mme Kanchine, on danse." On 6 April Marie hopes to show herself otherwise than in working dress to Mme Presseq, who is with the Kanchines (099.0044).
  • 13 April 1883 (099.0123). Mme Kanchine dines at the Bashkirtseffs'.
  • 27 May and 6 June 1883 (100.0011, 100.0076). Marie lists the salons where she is merely tolerated and adds: "Je ne parle pas des Kanchine, Foleyeff et autres"; the soirée dansante at their house is "la seule soirée dansante où j'ai été".
  • 15 August 1883 (101.0135). She remembers "un petit Espagnol de l'ambassade qui chez Mme Kanchine a été très assidu".
  • 17 March 1884 (103.0552). Mme and Mlle Kanchine are at a small dinner given for the priest ("on arrose la croix du pope"), with the Pelikans and Géry.
  • 20 April and 1 June 1884 (104.0022, 104.0487). Among the few women who come on a day when only men were expected; on 1 June she refuses to go to Mme Kanchine's that evening.

Related entries

Sources

Diary paragraphs as cited; no outside source identifying the family was found.

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