Sara & Gerald Murphy

The Murphys - 3/4

Gerald and Sara Murphy, La Garoupe Beach, Cap d’Antibes, 1926 © Beinecke Library, Yale.

Gerald and Sara moved to Paris in 1921 with their three children, Honoria, Baoth and Patrick. According to Sara, it was the desire to escape from “two very powerful families”, hers especially.

Sara and Gerald Murphy at Compte Étienne de Beaumont’s Automotive Ball, 1924. Photo by Man Ray

“Paris was where the 20th century was”, Gertrude Stein, who was a guest at the Murphys’ villa.

Fitzgerald and Hemingway disagreed with her assertion that theirs was “a lost generation”…

Baoth Murphy (1919-1935), Honoria Murphy (1917-1998) and Patrick Murphy (1920-1937), by Man Ray.

These wealthy, handsome East Coast expatriates, famous for their parties and hospitality, and who were to change the fate of Cap d’Antibes, built a circle of friends and acquaintances, many of whom became among the most famous writers, artists, musicians and painters of the 20th century. They helped to fund Diaghilev's "Ballet Russe" and made friends with Pablo Picasso, who painted and drew Sara. Their generosity to their friends knew no bounds..

Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc © Oetker Collection

The “it” couple of Paris arrived at the Hôtel du Cap in 1923. This legendary hotel, today one of the most famous celebrity hotspots on the planet, was only open during the winter. Sara and Gerald convinced Antoine Sella, the owner, to keep it open during the summer, so that they might entertain their friends. Antoine Sella was the visionary hotel manager who wanted to create the summer season in Antibes: as early as 1914 he had an incredible swimming pool hewn in the rock overlooking the sea, Eden Roc.

Sara and Gerald Murphy by Man Ray, 1926

The Murphys were later credited with “inventing” the summer season on the Riviera, and making it chic, as we enjoy it today. Gerald launched the Riviera style, wearing a striped sailor jersey, a workman’s cap, white duck pants and sandals.

Sara stunned her friends by wearing her pearls on the beach. They imported the East Hampton beach life to Antibes.

They organized “mad beach parties” at La Garoupe beach to the tune of the latest Jazz ballads on their portable phonograph. Picasso enjoyed their company there, together with his first wife, the Russian-born ballerina Olga. They astonished local people by slathering themselves with cocoa butter, sunbathing and swimming in the middle of the summer, which was not “in” at all back in those days, apart from Coco Chanel who was one of the first to do so.

They made art out of their own lives and became a myth.

They had looks, style, money, and taste. And they seem to have known everyone who was anyone.…

You will recognize Sara with her pearl necklace, Pablo Picasso wearing a Fedora, Olga Picasso in a tutu, Count Etienne de Beaumont wearing an exotic headdress. This famous art patron terrorized les gens chics by excluding a chosen few of them from his lavish costume balls. With his wife Countess Edith they were two famous society figures at that time. And on La Garoupe beach they organized bathing costume competitions…

(c) Beinecke Library, Yale

Harpo Marx © Beinecke Library, Yale. The American comedian was one of the Marx Brothers. While acting he didn’t speak and only used horns, whistles and other props. He played the harp and this is why he was nicknamed Harpo.

Rudolph Valentino, La Garoupe Beach. The Italian-born film star and his wife, the American designer Natacha Rambova, used to stay with Natacha’s parents, who had an estate in Juan les Pins (Château de Juan les Pins). She was a ballerina in the Imperial Russian Ballet. They were also guests of the Murphys.

Many books have been written about this iconic couple; I have read them all on order to prepare a tailormade conference, called “The Roaring Twenties on the French Riviera”…

Next article: Villa America