Rome, December 1886, the revelation of L’Abbesse de Jouarre

The world premiere in Rome, in 1886, of the philosophical drama, L'Abbesse de Jouarre, which was never performed in France, illustrates the exceptional understanding between Renan and Italy, from which he draws the sacred conception of love and death which inspires his work, and which pervades the play. Eleonora Duse, abbess and priestess, interprets in front of informed critics and fervent audiences, a mystery whose political and social implications make it an extremely modern drama.