Vitalie Rimbaud (1858-1875)

Vitalie Rimbaud – the poet's sister – in December 1873. Photographer: Vassogne, Charleville

Arthur Rimbaud – his head shaved in mourning - in mid-December 1875 by Ernest Delahaye.

Vitalie Rimbaud - born Jeanne Rosalie Vitalie Rimbaud on 15 June 1858 in Charleville et died 18 December 1875 in the same town – was the eldest of the two sisters of Arthur Rimbaud.

Biography

Vitalie was the daughter of Marie Catherine Vitalie Cuif and Frédéric Rimbaud. The latter left the marital home in 1860, leaving his wife with four young children. Frédéric was seven, Arthur six, Vitalie two and Isabelle eight months.

Vitalie grew up under the thumb of an authoritarian and conservative mother who provided a strict education based on Christian morality. In contrast to her brothers, Frédéric and Arthur, who attended the Institut Rossat, a private secular school with an excellent reputation, Vitalie boarded with the nuns of the Sépuchrine Convent, in the Place du Sépulcre (nowadays the Place Jacques Félix). "At the age of 15, Vitalie Rimbaud had the light skin, dark chestnut hair, and blue eyes of her brother Arthur".

Vitalie died on 18 December 1875, at the age of 17, from tubercular synovitis. Arthur Rimbaud attended her funeral with his head shaved, a sign of mourning.

She kept a private diary and wrote poetry. Her writings express fragility but do not reflect the permanent revolt that characterises those of her brother Arthur.

Publications

• Journal de Vitalie, published by the "Musée-Bibliothèque Arthur Rimbaud", Charleville-Mézières.

References

Sources

• This article began as a translation of its French equivalent.
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