Studio portrait of Henri L'Estrange, the famed funambulist known as "The Australian Blondin". Sydney, circa 1876.

RIISFELDT, Emil

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Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 103 x 63 mm (mount); verso with the imprint of 'E. Riisfeldt, London Photo Gallery (next door to Rush & Rousseau), 616 George Street, Sydney'; the print has a touch of foxing, but is otherwise in very good condition, as is the mount. A rare studio portrait of Melbourne-born Henri L'Estrange (1842-1894), the celebrated funambulist who in 1877 performed the sensational feat of crossing Sydney's Middle Harbour on a tightrope no fewer than three times. The portrait was probably taken soon after his arrival in Sydney late in 1876. Provenance: from a group of theatre-related photographs originally collected by the Sydney actor, stage manager and playwright Alfred Dampier. From The Dictionary of Sydney: 'L'Estrangebegan using the moniker 'the Australian Blondin' from early 1876. Arriving in Sydney from Melbourne, L'Estrange erected a large canvas enclosure in theDomainand began a regular series of performances on the tightrope. His opening night on 26 January 1877 attracted a reported crowd of between two and three thousand people. Newspaper reports commented that his performance was so like that of the original Blondin that people could be forgiven for thinking they had seen the world-renowned rope-walker. With his rope suspended 40 feet (12 metres) above the ground, L'Estrange walked backwards and forwards, walked in armour, walked covered in a sack, used and sat on a chair, cooked and rode a bicycle, all on the rope. His show also included a fireworks display for the public's entertainment. L'Estrange performed in the Domain from January through to April 1877, but not without incident. On 7 February 1877, as L'Estrange neared the end of his wire act, sparks from the fireworks going off around him fell into the nearby store of gunpowder and fireworks, igniting them. The store's shed was demolished, a surrounding fence knocked down, part of L'Estrange's performance tent caught fire, and two young boys were injured. L'Estrange's Domain show was in preparation for his main Sydney performance: crossing Sydney Harbour.In late March 1877, advertisements began to appear in the Sydney newspapers for L'Estrange's proposed harbour crossing. The first public performance was set for Saturday 31 March, with L'Estrange having organised 21 steamers to convey spectators fromCircular Quayto a special landing stage close to his performance area. L'Estrange advised those wishing to see his performance to travel on his steamers as they were the only ones with permission to land passengers. Of course this did not stop other entrepreneurs and captains from carrying spectators to and fro.Prior to the public performance, L'Estrange undertook the crossing for a select audience of 'gentlemen' and members of the press. That crossing was a success, and was well reviewed in the papers, no doubt adding to the crowd's anticipation for the Saturday show. Sadly, bad weather postponed the performance, which did not go ahead until 14 April. At 1 o'clock on Saturday April 14, the steamers began leaving Circular Quay, conveying 8,000 of an estimated 10,000-strong crowd to Middle Harbour. The remainder were reported to be walking fromSt Leonards,with a toll being collected by collectors along the way. Spectators clambered up the sides of the bay for vantage points, while hundreds more stayed on board steamers, yachts and in row boats below. The rope was strung across the entrance toWilloughby Bay,fromFolly Pointto the head of the bay, a reported length of 1420 feet or 433 metres, 340 feet (104 metres) above the waters below. The distance meant that two ropes were required, spliced together in the centre, to reach the other side, with 16 stays fixed to the shore and into the harbour to steady the structure.Atprecisely 4 pm L'Estrange appeared from his tent on the eastern shore. Dressed in a dark tunic, red cape and turban, he stepped onto the rope and began his walk. Amid the cheers of the onlookers, L'Estrange walked co. Seller Inventory # 44062

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Title: Studio portrait of Henri L'Estrange, the ...