Magda Stuart Heinemann

Identity:

Magda Stuart Heinemann, née Sindici, was the daughter of Cavaliere Augusto B. Sindici (1836-1921), a poet, writer on sport and Italian patriot, and Francesca Stuart Sindici, of Villa Sindici, Porto d'Anzio, near Rome (#05454). Magda was a writer, who married the London publisher William H. Heinemann in February 1899. They separated in 1903 and Heinemann filed for divorce, which was granted in 1904.

She filed a petition for bankruptcy on 18 November 1903, and was described in the London Gazette of 15 January 1904 as 'formerly carrying on business as a Dressmaker, at 35 Great Portland Street and 'lately at 16 Savile-row ... under the name of Madame Emma'. In 1906 she was declared bankrupt with debts over £15,000, which she blamed partly on her husband's failure to pay her debts before their divorce (but she had accepted £2000 in final settlement of claims from him), and subsequent pressures from creditors which prevented her working as an authoress, and the failure of her gambling and investment strategies.

She is said to have died in Ceccano, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy (where her father had died in 1921).

Life:

Magda Heinemann published under the pseudonym 'Kassandra Vivaria'. Her novel Via Lucis was published by the Heinemann firm. When she became engaged to William Heinemann, Whistler congratulated him, describing her as 'the most fair and dainty Donna!' Whistler was their best man at their wedding at St Antonio's in Porto d'Anzio. After their marriage he was a frequent visitor at their London residence at Norfolk Street. Around 1898 Whistler designed a monogram for William Heinemann. He also designed one for Magda [see Designs for monograms for William and Magda Heinemann m1534].

William Heinemann also commissioned a portrait of Magda from Whistler in 1898/99. Portrait of Mrs William Heinemann y531 was probably begun in Paris in 1900. Sittings continued into 1901. In December 1901 Whistler wrote to Magda Heinemann from Bath to arrange a sitting: 'I trust you are in buoyant spirits and satisfied with your beauty? the bella Mafia is so exacting!' (#08549). Whistler asked for further sittings in 1902 and 1903. When her husband denied his request, Whistler wrote to Magda: 'Pity! - for I meant the picture to be beautiful - as it has every right to be! - and the arrangement is so new! [...] the hand is stayed - and the work ceases - for the joy of it has gone! -' (GUW #08586).

Bibliography:

Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908 ; Frederic Whyte, William Heinemann: A Memoir, London, 1928; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 .

Gazette, London, website.

'Meetings', The Times (London), 3 March 1906, p. 13; 'In re Heinemann', The Times (London), 25 May 1906, p. 4.