Editorial comment for this plate:

ADA REHAN.

Our frontispiece this week is a striking portrait of Miss Ada Rehan, the well-known leading lady of Daly’s Theater, New York. Miss Rehan is here depicted in her character in “The Prayer,” a play in which she added another success to a long line of conspicuous triumphs on the dramatic stage.

The negative is by that world-renowned photographer, Napoleon Sarony, of New York, and is a good example of the artistic posing which has made him famous. The strong contrasts in the picture caused by the heavy black costume of the actress were a severe test for the camera; but, reproduced in photogravure, we have a vigorous picture which is in every way satisfactory for this subject. The light background sets the figure forth with unusual plasticity. The drapery falls in heavy folds and gives breadth and solidity to the picture; but the chief charm, we think, is in the graceful, well-balanced pose of the figure.

Napoléon Sarony (March 9, 1821 – November 9, 1896) was an American lithographer and photographer. He was a highly popular portrait photographer, best known for his portraits of the stars of late-19th-century American theater. His son, Otto Sarony, continued the family business as a theater and film star photographer.—Wikipedia (2026)