The Modjeska House
Artist
Scott FitzGerald
Date1974
MediumPrint
Dimensions8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm)
ClassificationsPrintmaking
Credit LineGift of Dan and Cathy Thomas
Object number2020.007
DescriptionBecause the area abounded in oak trees, brooks, palms, and “even lions” (California mountain lions), it reminded Helena Modjeska of the Forest of Arden described in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” and so it was that this famous 19th century actress chose “Arden” as the name of her beloved home in eastern Orange County.“Arden” is located in Santiago Canyon at the base of Modjeska Peak of Old Saddleback Mountain. It was designed by New York architect Stanford White and built by Mme. Modjeska and her husband, Karol Bozenta Chlapowski, on a 400-acre farm purchased from Joseph Pleasants in 1888.
A Russian refugee before coming to American and settling originally in Anaheim in 1876 with her husband and young son, Helena Modjeska was a star with the Russian-controlled Imperial Theatre in Warsaw, Poland. Although she had had a successful stage career in Europe, her lank of knowledge of the English language presented a serious barrier to winning roles in the American theatre. Undaunted, she moved temporarily to San Francisco where she studied English and in 1877 made an extremely successful American stage debut there. From that time on she achieved even greater fame throughout America than she had known in Europe.
“Arden” was the scene of many gatherings of distinguished men and women of the arts and literature during Mme. Modjeska’s lifetime. She died in 1909 at her cottage in Newport Beach, and she was buried in her native Cracow, Poland.
The Modjeska Home is presently privately owned.
(September 1974)
Written by the artist, Scott FitzGerald
On View
Not on view
