La Saxe

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-05 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-01-17

Identity

Courtesan in Nice, nicknamed "The Saxon" suggesting German origin.

Diary References

1874

• January 17: At the theater in a ground floor box. Marie describes her as beautiful, especially her face, with a "nonchalant, ivre, languissant et gaillard" (nonchalant, drunk, languishing and lusty) air. Compares her to Phryne or Lais (famous Greek courtesans).

Marie's Analysis

• Admires her beauty but finds it different from Gioia's
• Classical beauty of face vs Gioia's modern allure
• Gioia superior in "port, de manière, de taille" (bearing, manner, figure)
• Represents the demimonde Marie observes with fascination

Context

• Part of Nice's courtesan culture
• Theater boxes were display spaces for demimonde
• Marie's classical education shows in hetaera comparisons