Natalie Clifford Barney - Eva Palmer-Sikelianos

Eva Palmer-Sikelianos

Barney's earliest intimate relationship was with Eva Palmer-Sikelianos. In 1893 they became acquainted during summer vacations in Bar Harbor, Maine. Barney likened Palmer to a medieval virgin, an ode to her ankle length red hair, sea-green eyes and complexion. The two would remain close for a number of years. As young adults in Paris they would share an apartment at 4, rue Chalgrin. Later they would each have their own place in Neuilly. Barney would frequently solicit Palmer's help in her romantic pursuits of other women, namely Pauline Tarn. Palmer would ultimately leave Barney's side for Greece and eventually marry Angelos Sikelianos. Their relationship would not survive these turn of events, Barney took a dim view of Angelos and heated letters were exchanged. Later in their lives the friendship would be repaired and both took a mature view on the roles they had played in each other's lives.