In the early 20th century, Gerald Clery Murphy and Sara Sherman Wiborg were wealthy expatriate Americans who left an indelible mark on the French Riviera. With their generous hospitality and flair for parties, they created a vibrant social circle in the 1920s that included many renowned artists and writers of the Lost Generation. Gerald also had a brief but significant career as a painter, contributing to the artistic vibrancy of the era.
Gerald Murphy: A Reluctant Businessman Turned Artist
Gerald Clery Murphy (March 26, 1888 – October 17, 1964) was born in Boston to a prominent family that owned the Mark Cross Company, known for fine leather goods. Despite his father's wishes for him to succeed in business, Gerald was an aesthete from a young age, never comfortable in the boardrooms and clubs for which he was groomed. He struggled academically, failing the entrance exams at Yale University three times before finally matriculating and performing respectably. At Yale, he joined Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Skull and Bones society, where he befriended a young Cole Porter and introduced him to a circle of friends that would propel Porter's musical career.
Sara Sherman Wiborg: A Socialite with Artistic Leanings
Sara Sherman Wiborg (November 7, 1883 – October 10, 1975) was born into the wealthy Wiborg family in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father, Frank Bestow Wiborg, was a self-made millionaire, and her mother, Adeline Sherman Wiborg, was a member of the esteemed Sherman family. Raised in Cincinnati, Sara moved to Germany with her family during her teenage years, where they were welcomed into high society. Upon returning to the United States, the Wiborgs spent their time between New York City and East Hampton, where they built a grand 30-room mansion, The Dunes, on a sprawling 600-acre estate.
A Love Story Amidst Disapproval
Sara and Gerald met as adolescents in East Hampton. Despite being five years younger, Gerald developed a close companionship with Sara that eventually blossomed into romance. They became engaged in 1915, but their families were not thrilled with the match. Sara's parents disapproved of Gerald's involvement in trade, while Gerald's father had difficulty approving anything his son did. Nonetheless, they married and settled in New York City, where they had three children.
Paris and the Birth of Villa America
In 1921, seeking to escape the constraints of New York and familial disapproval, the Murphys moved to Paris. It was here that Gerald began his brief but notable painting career, and the couple forged friendships with some of the era's most celebrated artists and writers, including Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso. Their move to the French Riviera in the 1920s marked the beginning of a golden era for the region. The Murphys persuaded the Hôtel du Cap to remain open during the summer, transforming the Riviera into a fashionable summer destination. Their villa, Villa America, became the epicenter of a vibrant social circle.
Tragedy and the End of an Era
The Murphys' idyllic life was shattered in 1929 when their son Patrick was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The family moved to Switzerland for his treatment, but their return to the U.S. in 1934 marked the end of their Riviera sojourn. Gerald assumed the presidency of Mark Cross, and Sara focused on nursing Patrick in Saranac Lake, New York. Their other children, Baoth and Honoria, were placed in boarding schools. Tragedy struck again in 1935 when Baoth died of meningitis, and in 1937, Patrick succumbed to tuberculosis.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Despite their personal losses, the Murphys' legacy endures through the works of their friends and the artistic circles they nurtured. F. Scott Fitzgerald's characters Nicole and Dick Diver in "Tender Is the Night" are widely recognized as being inspired by the Murphys. Ernest Hemingway's "The Garden of Eden" also echoes the Murphys' social milieu.
Gerald's paintings, characterized by their Precisionist, Cubist style, include notable works such as "Razor" (1924) and "Watch" (1925), both part of the Dallas Museum of Art's collection. Sara, immortalized in several of Picasso's 1923 paintings, remains a muse in the art world.
Their story is chronicled in biographies such as Calvin Tomkins's "Living Well Is the Best Revenge" and Amanda Vaill's "Everybody Was So Young." Their daughter, Honoria Murphy Donnelly, also contributed to their legacy with the book "Sara & Gerald: Villa America and After."
Gerald and Sara Murphy's lives were a tapestry of art, tragedy, and enduring influence. From their early years in New York to their transformative time on the French Riviera, they left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of the 20th century. Their story is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and the enduring bonds of friendship.