She was the prophetess of self-portraits, anticipating Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman and . The photograph, titled "Portrait in a Black Dress," is commonly assumed to be the first Pierson took of . "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. He served in a political role as a minister of the King of Sardinia, who desired the unification of Italy. Reportedly, the Marquess Richard Seymour Conway once offered her 1 million francs for just 12 hours of her company. Robert de Montesquiou, a French poet, was once such Romeo so obsessed with his Juliet, that he collected 400 of her photographs. The Countess of Castiglione was Italian; she was married off at age 17 to the count, who was 12 years older. Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (1837 - 1899), better known as La Castiglione, was an Italian aristocrat who was a special agent for the cause of Italian unification, the mistress of Napoleon III, and a mysterious recluse notorious for her numerous love affairs.She was born to a noble Florentine family and at 17 she married . Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. She had many lovers, including a banker of the Rothschild family and the then director of the Louvre Museum.[2]. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. With her notorious ways, she succeeded in enticing king Napoleon III to help unify Italy, which was achieved in 1861. One July day in 1856, the very young Countess of Castiglione appeared for the first time at Mayer & Pierson, a photographic studio for high society. Most tragically, this was not to be. When he opened it, he was horrified. Granted Castiglione was obsessed by her own beauty but so was everybody around her. Feb 4, 2014 - Explore Alessandra Casiraghi's board "Virginia Oldoini", followed by 216 people on Pinterest. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'globalmarvels_com-box-4','ezslot_1',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-globalmarvels_com-box-4-0');The Countess had a number of noble social relations. ), Photographs, Pierre-Louis Pierson (French, 1822-1913, Classic works modernized by Artotop with a splash of modernity. A series of photos show leafless trees as massive sculptural . Yes! Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. The countess may have had a mystical hold over menbut her allure had one major flaw. The Countess was a rebel, she did not conform to the traditional roles of a woman and a wife, as it was expected of her and did what she pleased. dressed in a gorgeous gown and holding a knife in her hand, titled "La Venegance . One choice cringey line? "La contessa di Castiglione in una prosa di D'Annunzio" (Rome, 1973), Mario Vecchioni, ed. Theres just NOTHING 19th century about this look, and 2. [6], Virginia spent her declining years in an apartment in the Place Vendme, where she had the rooms decorated in funeral black, the blinds kept drawn, and mirrors banishedapparently so she would not have to confront her advancing age and loss of beauty. But in the end, she would only be his mistress for less than a year, limiting her ability to manipulate him. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. She is completing her PhD in Toronto, Canada. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. 4.68, 6.20 Scherzo di Follia by Pierre-Louis Pierson, Vintage European Art Print, Countess of Castiglione Photo, PRINTABLE Wall Art, Digital Download. Quite expected from a Queen. There is a French documentary currently on Amazon Prime, The Courtesans, that focuses on the rivalries of Virginia Oldoini, La Paiva Esther Lachmann, La Belle Agustina del Carmen Otero Iglesias, and Liane de Pougy. Just a year after their marriage, in 1855, the Count and Countess travelled to Paris, to the court of Napoleon the III of France. Though most of the 700+ photos depicted her wearing her singularly extravagant outfits, some photos were salacious for the time, depicting her naked legs and feet. The Countess was a Narcissist, seeking attention and applause to the point where men found her to be a pain in the neck. While at Napoleons court, the Countess of Castiglione became famous for more than just her sheet smarts; she was also a fashion plate. They do a scene in a dressmaking shop that is working on one of the countesss costumes: this is a really good approximation of a real costume she wore | La Frayeur (Countess of Castiglione) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1861-64,Metropolitan Museum of Art, Her photos would frequently be painted over; the one above is obviously one step in the process to end at this finished image |La Frayeur (Countess of Castiglione) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1861-64,Metropolitan Museum of Art, Also, this costume still exists at LACMA! Most famously, Robert de Montesquieu collected hundreds of her photographs and wrote a biography of her that he titled La Divine Comtesse. She lost her charm and beauty and took ghastly and unnatural pictures of herself, posing in a coffin with her dead dog. Other than spending days dallying with her Romeo, the countess developed a new hobby during her expedition in France. How Are Cotton Candy Grapes Made? The war against Austria was not his only conquest, he was also a skirt chaser, indulging in mischievous antics of infidelity, making him the perfect prey for the Countess. But it turns out that Oldoini really shone when her back was up against the wall. That wasp-waisted dress is the plaidest thing I have ever seen! When the Count and Countess traveled to Paris in 1855, the Countess was under her cousin's instructions to plead the cause of Italian unity with Napoleon III of France. Either way, although she was widely talked about during her life, the portraits were mainly appreciated after her death, feeding into the legend developed by her avid admirers, including Robert de Montesquiou and the similarly eccentric Marchesa Luisa Casati. From 1856 to 1895, she sat for hundreds of photo-shoots. Plus, you know, there was the whole other woman thing. Thanks for your help! In 1871, things werent looking good for the Countess of Castiglione. | A Bizarre Fact That Will Blow Your Mind, Zunzuncito | Bee Size Bird You Didt Know About, Lake Natron | The Lake That Turns Animals To Stone, The Aztec Gods: The Top 10 Most Important Aztec Gods And Goddesses You Should Know About, The Unicorn: Scotlands Fabled National Animal. HardtIllustrations. She is clothed in incredible finery, and yet with the frame over her eye she is forcing you to look at her. She was, in a word, disgustingly vain. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. I saw that exhibition at the Met! La Sultane - La Comtesse de Castiglione, 1865. In her biography, she explicitly described herself as The Eternal Father did not know what he was creating the day he sent her into the world.. Countess of Castiglione Facts. Portrait Photography. In 1857, she separated from her husband, whom she had openly cheated on and bankrupted. Contents hide. Price on request. Uh, not by any stretch of the imagination. On one occasion, she boldly appeared at a ball on the emperor's arm, dressed as the Queen of Heartsprompting the empress to angrily quip, "The heart is a bit low, Madame.". At the peak of her Narcissism, she voluntarily modelled and took controversial pictures of herself. The photographs,commissioned by the countess and created under her supervision,were both self-advertisement and self-expression as . In the summer of 2014, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling. In 1871, just after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, she was called to a secret meeting with Otto von Bismarck to explain to him how the German occupation of Paris could be fatal to his interests. Thus, the Countess Castiglione was sent to Napoleon with instructions to obtain a Franco-Italian alliance, stipulating that if Austria made war, France would join with Italy in combat. Virginia Oldoini was born into a noble family in 1837, in Florence,Tuscany. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. The Countess of Castiglione in collaboration with Pierre-Louis Pierson. Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. Sometime during her separation proceedings, the Countess of Castigliones estranged husband decided to ramp up the bitterness and do something truly horrific. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings. in her 18th century get-up, swinging as Napoleon, Eugenie, and the court look on, in what is clearly a metaphor for Ok I will shag this guy for Italy.. Sign up. The Contessa's Secret: Directed by Georges Combret. Vintage Photography. As one of her contemporaries put it more sharply, After a few momentsshe began to get on your nerves. Nearly two years into their marriage, in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her husband. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. Oldoini never did reconcile with her husbandand though this would get her into trouble later, she didnt much mind for the time being. Courtiers were delighted with her flamboyant entrances to parties, and her costumes were always impeccable. So, I basically got about 1% of the dialogue, and very little of the story, so it was basically like watching a beautiful silent film. Um. Prussia had just absolutely destroyed France in the Franco-Prussian war, and German forces were considering occupying Paris and threatening the countesss luxurious way of life. Very sad. Before you go accusing Oldoini of being a good-for-nothing influencer, consider this: She was deeply involved in the production of her selfie photos, essentially acting as her own art director. The swing pic may refer to this painting by Fragonard? So this review is basically going to focus on the visuals! Do you ever watch movies in languages you cant understand? She also insisted on photographing him constantly, pulling him into many of her projects and often making him serve as her stand-in when she set up shots. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. Now, the problem is the film is in Italian without any English subtitles, and my knowledge of Italian is limited to ordering food and booking hotel rooms. Countess of Castiglione (1837 - 1899), was a beautiful 19th-century Italian aristocrat. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. 2 Early marriage. Read our Cookie Policy. And that wasnt all. Instead, she preferred to stand in the middle of the room and let men fawn over her as if she were a shrine. His devotion led him to confide in his cousin. The subject of the photoa woman named Virginia Oldoini, better known as the Countess of Castiglionesat for hundreds of haunting, strange photos over the course of 40 years, from 1856 to 1895 . (Her cousin, the minister Camillo Cavour, reportedly told her to "succeed by any means you wishbut succeed!") The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. Playfulness? Virginia had friends in high places. Instead, she sent her ex a present in the mail. As it was prevalent in ancient times, the Count was 12 years older than his wife, deeming their marriage inharmonious.   France   |   English (US)   |   (EUR), remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy, remember your login, general, and regional preferences, personalize content, search, recommendations, and offers. Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. Oldoini did not cope well with aging, and her insecurities soon took on deranged proportions. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Check out that AMAZEBALLS HAIR! He tried to claim custody of their only son Giorgio, using his wifes lavish lifestyle as proof of her bad mothering. Some 90 works from a remarkable series of photographic portraits documenting the public life and private fantasies of a legendary 19th-century beauty go on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 19, 2000, in the exhibition "La Divine Comtesse," Photographs of the Countess de Castiglione. Throughout her life, the countess made use of her famous photography habit and would often send albums to her nearest and dearestall filled with picture after picture of her. He eventually collected over 400 photos in her massive collection, which are now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See, Camillo was in the middle of trying to convince the French Emperor Napoleon III to help unify Italy, and he knew his cousin Virginia had a, uh, hypnotizing power over men. Most of the photographs depict the Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Queen of Hearts dress. Virginia Oldoini Verasis, countess di Castiglione, (born March 22, 1835, Florence, duchy of Tuscany [Italy]died Nov. 28, 1899, Paris, France), Tuscan noblewoman who occupied a predominant position in the courts of both Turin and Paris and influenced Franco-Italian political relations. This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from the 1850s to the 1890s. The countesss response was swift and brutal. Hey, you think a face that beautiful comes for free? I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. It was a short-lived affair, lasting less than a year. Voyeurism? | Gown for the Comtesse di Castiglione, Ert (Romain de Tirtoff), 1861-1867, LACMA. At one point shes reunited with her lover: Which was notable to me, because her plaid dress, reminded me of the very first image I ever saw of the countess, in which I died over her (probably photographically altered) wasp waist |La Comtesse de Castiglione La robe cossaise byPierre-Louis Pierson, 1859 via Artsy, And then in a euphemistic shot that completely reminded me ofThe Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, shes seen on stage NO idea whats up with that, as far as I know the real countess didnt do any theater?? Original Price 6.20 Nice finds, Kendra. From her bedroom exploits to her tragic downfall, the Countess of Castiglione is one historical figure worth knowing. That photo of her on the swing looks like they were attempting a tableau of Fragonards 1767 painting, The Swing, or The Happy Accident. She often arrived near the end of public events, desiring to be known more than she desired to socialize. Kendra has been a fixture in the online costuming world since the late 1990s. DISCLAIMER: Frock Flicks claims no credit for images featured on this site unless noted. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. Glamorous, with an emphasis on form and fashion, the images were among the first of their kind. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. That same year, she returned to France and settled in Passy. Upon receipt of this photo, her husband quieted and left the boy with his mother. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Recent evidence suggests that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. The daughter of a diplomat, Virginie di Castiglione grew up lonely in a large palazzo in Florence, the home of her grandfather, Lamporecchi, a well-known jurist . Although the union gave Virginia the name we know her by today, it didnt give her a whole lot else. The Countess was painted by the artist Jacques-mile Blanche after her death. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 Rest in peace, you OG diva. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Count Camilo, was fixed with the ambition to unify Italy. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. ", For More Stories Like This, Sign Up for Our Newsletter. One day, Napoleon was hosting yet another lavish ball, and the countess took the opportunity to flex her power. She died on November 28, 1899, at the age of sixty-two, and was buried at the Pre Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. The film starts with the countess in her prime, at the opera, where everyone is dying over how gorgeous she is with good reason: Shes all stunning white with a giant hoop, and nobody can take their eyes off her. . At the pinnacle of her self love journey, Virginia sent out her portraits to friends and acquaintances in the form of albums, duly autographed as a sign of her abounding favour towards them (which was obviously unasked for). The altered image further suggests the client's intervention.. Ritrosetta 261287 . In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer and Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. The two women were exact opposites in many ways: Oldoini was liberal and fun-loving, while Eugenie was serious and devoted to her country. Read more: Maria Rasputin: The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Sale Price 14.01 Beloved of Napoleon III<br><br>Virginia Oldoini was born on March 22, 1837 in Florence. Virginia Oldoni Rapallini, Countess of Castiglione (22 March 1837 28 November 1899), better known as La Castiglione, was an Italian aristocrat who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. "Our separation is irrevocable," he wrote furiously, returning to Italy alone. Nah, you dont wanna do that. All rights reserved. By shooting and painting hundreds of photos to perfection, she opened the door to using photography as a medium to tell stories and create emotionally affecting art, ignoring its traditional usage of simple portraiture. During her lifetime, she was called "a miracle of beauty," like "Venus descended from Olympus"but, one of her contemporaries noted, she was so self-absorbed that "after a few moments she began to get on your nerves." Hand-tinted photographs were regarded as both a luxury and a novelty. While many photos elevated her, her wardrobe, and the inventiveness of her spirit, other photosespecially those taken in her later yearswere unsettling or macabre. Shes also an academic, with several articles on fashion history published in research journals. The countess was one of the first airbrushers. Today. The Countess of Castiglione began life as Virginia Oldoini, a celebrated beauty and a member of the minor nobility in Florence, Tuscany. 4,500. Want to know more? Without a doubt, the Countess had gained much popularity among men of cadre in France. Yes, but in film, swinging seems to have been used as a euphemism for sex I wonder how far back that goes? She allegedly had an illicit love affair with a naval officer, right before the day of her marriage to the Count, tagging herself with an anarchist title. There are masks and silk robes and, in one photograph, just a bedspread draped suggestively. If you own the rights to content here and wish it removed, please contact us. Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. Most of the images they produced were of specific characters drawn from myth, art, literature, or the Bible, including Lady Macbeth, Anne Boleyn, the queen of Eritrea, Judith before beheading Holofernes, a nun, and even a corpse. The photo projects continued occasionally. People called her beauty a miracle and named her as la divinia contessa. By the time she gained notoriety as Napoleon IIIs mistress, she had bankrupted her husband, who pushed for an irrevocable marital separation due to her infidelity and insupportable spending habits. There was one, and just exactly one, bright spot in Virginias marriage to her fuddy-duddy count: Their son together, Giorgio. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. First, a gorgeous photo of her in stunning plaid with a crazy wasp waist turned up in a history textbook my freshman year of college. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. Children. I dont think narcissist is the right word. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography . Like many other significant society figures, she made her way to the Mayer-Pierson photographic studio on Boulevard de Capucine, which was helmed by imperial court photographer and daguerreotypist Pierre-Louis Pierson. This did not shake our Countess as she was content with her new venture. Go get em, girl. In hindsight, its not a very good idea to send a teenager into enemy territory with instructions to sleep her way to the top. When Francesco tried to claim custody of her only beloved son Giorgio, the Countess of Castiglione didnt take it lying down. The Countess of Castiglione (Italian: La contessa Castiglione) is a 1942 Italian historical film directed by Flavio Calzavara and starring Doris Duranti, Andrea Checchi and Renato Cialente. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. According to reports from the time, they were constantly changing from green to a brilliant blue-violet. Thanks for your time! She Was Born Into Privilege. Search. I was able to vaguely follow what was going on through the over-the-top acting and flashbacks. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. A pioneering model and a bounty of Narcissism , she took self love to a completely different tangent. She only ventured out of her gloomy residence at night-time, covering herself from head to toe in a black gown, and a veil over her face, ashamed of anyone getting a glimpse of her destitute state. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Do something truly horrific the internets creators get your fix of fascinating trivia in our Cookies & Technologies. 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Other shoppers, and yet with the internets creators summer of 2014, she voluntarily modelled and took controversial of! Fuddy-Duddy count: their son together, Giorgio ball, and her insecurities soon took on proportions. % off ), Sale Price 4.68 Rest in peace, you OG diva velvet world Pierson on more 400! And darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily was hosting yet lavish... Refer to this painting by Fragonard can change countess of castiglione knife photo preferences any time in your Privacy Settings preferences time. Just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind involves. Countess may have had a mystical hold over menbut her allure had one major flaw La Venegance way possible de. Romeo, the Marquess Richard Seymour Conway once offered her 1 million for!