Belmare

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-12-07 Diary Coverage: Up to 1873-02-19

A property or villa in Nice that the Bashkirtseff family visited and considered for residence in February 1873.

Mentions in the Diary

• February 19, 1873: The family, accompanied by Biasini (likely a real estate agent or property manager), went to visit "Belmare." Marie's verdict: "c'est bien trop petit pour nous" (it's much too small for us).

Historical Context

In 1873, the Bashkirtseff family was living at Villa Baquis (which Marie disdainfully called "Buffa"), a residence she considered beneath their social station. The visit to Belmare suggests the family was looking for better accommodations in Nice.

Marie's dismissal of Belmare as "too small" reveals:

• The family's need for a residence substantial enough to reflect their social ambitions
• Marie's acute sensitivity to how their address and living space affected their social standing
• The family's ongoing search for appropriate housing in Nice

The fact that they were viewing properties suggests either:

• Their lease at Villa Baquis was ending
• They were dissatisfied enough to consider moving mid-season
• They were planning ahead for the next winter season