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Nellie Melba as Juliette from Roméo et Juliette, signed 1911
This large-scale portrait of Melba as Juliette is an imposing example of the use of studio photography to portray an operatic role. A companion photograph taken at the same time, depicted Melba as the dead Juliette lying on her tomb. The diva…
Portrait of Nellie Melba, inscribed to Ada Berrill, 1914–15
This portrait photograph was given to Ada Berrill, Melba’s personal maid and travel companion.
Cigarette card featuring Nellie Melba, 1912
Collectable cards inserted in cigarette packaging were popular from the late 19th century to the 1940s. Designed to encourage the collection of entire sets, they were issued in themed series such as plants, wildlife and sports and theatre stars. This…
Postcard featuring Nellie Melba as Elaine, inscribed to Tommy Cochran, c.1908
Melba premiered in the title role of Herman Bemberg’s opera Elaine in London in 1892. This portrait by Frank Haviland was published in The Illustrated London News in June 1908 as part of his series of theatrical celebrities and marked Melba’s 20th…
Nellie Melba alighting from her car with driver William Hayes, London, c.1900–10
Melba owned numerous cars throughout her life including models made by Rolls Royce, Pierce-Arrow, Renault, Fiat and Cadillac. When she travelled, her cars were sometimes shipped between continents including to Australia. In Paris in 1904, Melba was…