Josephine Clifton

Auguste Edouart’s portrait of actor Josephine Clifton gives little intimation of her short-lived, dynamic career. Nor does it convey her height; she was “an imposing presence” who stood around six feet tall. Edouart provides much detail in her clothing and shows her carrying a small purse. Clifton’s life was filled with controversy and mired by ill health. For much of her career, she was dogged by claims that her mother had run a brothel. A contemporary suggested that this debate led her manners to exhibit “a masculine cast,” which overshadowed “a character naturally feminine and genial.” Clifton played important leading roles during a career that took her to London, New York City, and other centers for theater. In Philadelphia, she often appeared in performances with the prominent actor Edwin Forrest. That she was cited as an adulteress in his divorce proceedings after her death suggests how such controversies shaped her legacy.