Over the past century a vast public has venerated and preserved the memory of Eleonora Duse. She has been cherished like an object of cult, her story passed down from parent to child, blending history and legend in fervid approximation. Numerous biographies and magazine articles have been published about her, and numerous exhibitions held on her throughout the world.
\nThe Cini Foundation, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2001, has witnessed this constant interest in the ‘divina’ Eleonora first hand. Possessing the largest archives of the actress’ letters and documents, it has granted biographers and scholars the assurance of finding material for their research in the archives at San Giorgio. The latter contain hundreds of letters, written by Eleonora or sent to her from all over the world by important personalities in literature and theatre or unknown admirers, and various documents including personal papers, memoirs and photographs of her tourn\u00e9es in Europe and the Americas. The memory of the intimate Eleonora is preserved in her correspondence with her first great love, Arrigo Boito, poet and dramatist, and in the letters to her daughter Enrichetta, written in a unique blend of Italian and French which intertwines maternal tenderness and poetry. It was actually Enrichetta’s daughter, a nun who took on the name of Sister Mary of St Mark, who donated this exceptional collection to the Cini Foundation in 1968. The archives has since been enriched by subsequent donations and now comprises a wealth of material including part of the actress’ wardrobe and a precious Cartier watch, engraved with two ‘D’s’, perhaps a gift to D’Annunzio.<\/p>\n