[Profile with Chignon, Large] (Countess Virginia Oldoini Verasis di Castiglione [18351899]) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 186163, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1855. From her bedroom exploits to her tragic downfall, the Countess of Castiglione is one historical figure worth knowing. 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. Read more: Maria Rasputin: The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. From 1856 to 1895, she sat for hundreds of photo-shoots. ), Photographs, Pierre-Louis Pierson (French, 1822-1913, Classic works modernized by Artotop with a splash of modernity. 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." Captcha failed to load. Another wrote that, at gatherings, she would "allow people to her admire her as if she were a shrine She almost never spoke to women. Gee thanks Virginia, you really shouldnt have. 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. 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. Want to know more interesting facts? Daphne Guinness, eat your heart out. Soon enough, it all came crashing down. James Hyman Gallery presented recently the very first London exhibition of one of the greatest figures in the history of photography, the Countess of Castiglione.. Find Virginia Oldoini, Countess Of Castiglione stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Artist Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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. 1860. Feb 22, 2015 - Explore Roderick Johnson's board "Countess of Castiglione", followed by 175 people on Pinterest. The separation wasnt just an idle threat, either. Genealogy profile for Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. Dead Woman in the Bathtub: Why Are We So Fascinated by Ophelia's Suicide. 4,500. Nearly two years into their marriage, in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her husband. Cookies and similar technologies are used to improve your experience, to do things like: Without these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. The Countess was known for her beauty and her flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the imperial court. The Countess sure was bold. The opulence of these ladies is over the top. Well, today we're going to talk about the woman considered the queen of selfies and a true pioneer of photography in general. Does Fragonards painting have the same subtext? The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson (c. 1863-66). Mariah Carey could never. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. [11], The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by, Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoni Rapallini, Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. Plus, you know, there was the whole other woman thing. With the fruits of her husbands fortune and her natural beauty, the Countess of Castiglione affected grandiose and eye-catching entrances. Vintage Photography. In the end, Oldoinis illicit dalliance with Napoleon III was as short-lived as it was tragic. Linocut engraved and printed by hand. La Castiglione lived and died for beauty, but her inner beauty wasnt up to the standards implied by her physical assets. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. . 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. In recent years, the Countess has been dubbed everything from "selfie queen" to "supreme narcissist" to Surrealist pioneer. But it only got worse. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. In order to give you the best experience, we use cookies and similar technologies for performance, analytics, personalization, advertising, and to help our site function. ARCHIMEDES The Greatest Mathematician and Inventor, Habu Sake Facts & Information You Should Know About, How do Lobsters Communicate? At the age of 17, Virginia married Francesco Verazis. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Recent evidence suggests that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Some of the portraits were sent out in albums to friends and admirers, often as a signal of her favor. Learn more. The Countess of Castiglione made her mark in very difficult times. The Countess of Castiglione would appear to have been obsessed with her own image since she had herself photographed during a period of over forty years by Pierre-Louis Pierson (1822-1913), the first photo being taken in July 1856, the last in 1895. Its said that she expected to be admired by those who shared her company, and that her conversation was often grating, as it centered around herself and her needs exclusively. 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. Uh, not by any stretch of the imagination. 1 Born into Novelty. Copyright 2007-2020 Frock Flicks, Trystan L. Bass, Kendra Van Cleave, & Sarah Lorraine Goodman. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Hasards_heureux_de_l%27escarpolette#/media/Fichier:Fragonard,_The_Swing.jpg. She ended her life as a recluse hiding in darkened apartments. She also recreated defining moments of her life, mythologizing her own story by documenting herself in dresses that had proved themselves especially admired or notorious, chief among them being her Queen of Hearts costume. Yeah, theres a reason why it became infamous. View contact information for cast and crew. Plus, you know, there was the whole "other woman" thing. skeleton on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro. The Eternal Father did not know what he was creating the day he sent her into the world. Married in 1854 to Count Francesco Verasis di Castiglione, who was attached to the court of King Victor . He served in a political role as a minister of the King of Sardinia, who desired the unification of Italy. I saw that exhibition at the Met! A notorious womanizer, Napoleon also suffered from a chaste and pious wife, Empress Eugenie, who had long stopped sleeping with him because she found him and his extra-marital escapades disgusting. It was also published on its own in 1973. The studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. Shapes, color and value, eye-catching visual impact on art. The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. 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.. Her room was painted black, windows sealed and mirrors removed from every nook and cranny. Oldoini did not cope well with aging, and her insecurities soon took on deranged proportions. 4 A Vile Proposition. 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.". Four months of attention-grabbing stunts were required for her to become Napoleons mistress. In fact, he specifically told the countess to succeed by whatever means you wishbut succeed. Posts about La Comtesse de Castiglione written by Embla. Guess what? I forget where I read that the centrifugal force generated by the action of a swing creates pressure on the female genital organs, and therefore mildly stimulates them. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. These actions protected her from watching her own beauty decay, and allowed her admirers to only remember the beauty she was in her youth. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Browse 337 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. ", Writing about herself in third person, the Countess said, "The Eternal Father did not know what he was creating the day he sent her into the world; he modeled and modeled, and when he was finished he looked at his wondrous work and was overwhelmed. In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer and Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. That wasp-waisted dress is the plaidest thing I have ever seen! 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. She often stood in the middle of the court, asking men to worship her like the goddess she was. In fact, you may not need to picture it; you may have already seen the image. 7 The First Model. Robert de Montesquiou, a French poet, was once such Romeo so obsessed with his Juliet, that he collected 400 of her photographs. Feb 4, 2014 - Explore Alessandra Casiraghi's board "Virginia Oldoini", followed by 216 people on Pinterest. They'd posthumously be described by critics as more morbid, more disturbed, more deranged than her earlier work. All eyes were on her whenever she entered a room, and her costumes were the talk of the court. Portrait Photography. Not only was her husband a noble, but her own heritage was also nothing to slouch at. (Looking back, that may possibly be why as a pre-teen I enjoyed the swings in the playground so much; I would have swung for hours if there hadnt always been someone else who wanted a go on them. All Rights Reserved. InParisfor a delicate worldly-diplomatic mission, entrusted by her cousinCount of Cavourto the court of Napoleon III, the beautiful Virginia Oldoini (known as Countess of Castiglione), meets a young Mazzinian carbonaro (an ancient flame of hers), contrary to Cavourian politics. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. The countesss meaning wasnt lost on Empress Eugenie, and the straight-laced woman ended up getting in a savage comeback. Or something else entirely? Camilo was abreast of the mesmerising effect Virginia had on men and hence he pleaded with the Countess to join hands with him. Now, the problem with the Countess of Castiglione as a frock flicks subject is that the two main movies about her are in Italian, and hard to track down. Performance. Please. Camillo encouraged seduction in no uncertain terms when he told her to succeed using any means necessary. 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.. George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in . She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. Watch fullscreen. In hindsight, its not a very good idea to send a teenager into enemy territory with instructions to sleep her way to the top. Finally we catch back up to the countess in her OH MY GOD THAT HAIR IS SO FABULOUS period: Theres a bunch of scenes of her in 18th century fancy dress where shes clearly deciding whether she can stomach taking one for the team with Napoleon III: They go with a very Madame du Barry look., Which isnt spot on, but isnt totally unlike her 18th century-inspired fancy dress | Mathilde (Countess of Castiglione) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1860s,Metropolitan Museum of Art. I recently stumbled across this 1942 version starring Doris Duranti as the countess on YouTube (the other . Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. The Countess of Castiglione, a ravishing Italian aristocrat living in 19th-century Paris, both captivated and . She inspired the novel Exposition by Nathalie Lger. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Just a year after their marriage, in 1855, the Count and Countess travelled to Paris, to the court of Napoleon the III of France. Library. Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione and mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France photo by Pierre-Louise Pierson, c.1863-66 . Okay this dressing gown just screams 1940s. Virginia Oldoiniknown better to history as the Countess of Castiglionewas mad, bad, and dangerous to know. View Etsys Privacy Policy. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. My mom never told me how her best friend died. The Countess was famous for one feature in particular: Her eyes. Edwardian Era. After four years in Italy, her political acumen was vindicated when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. Beloved of Napoleon III<br><br>Virginia Oldoini was born on March 22, 1837 in Florence. Thanks for your time! Once there, she looked the courtesan up and down before sniffing, The heart is a little low, madam. The Countess returned to Italy in 1857 when her affair with Napoleon III was over. ", For More Stories Like This, Sign Up for Our Newsletter. Of all the relationships the Countess formed in Paris, the most significantand by far most enduringwas her relationship with the camera. After the death of her son, Giorgio who succumbed to smallpox, in 1879, she felt disgraced and refused to leave her house. "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. La comtesse de Castiglione - Passy, 1861-1867. Soldier Boy Confronts Crimson Countess The Boys Clip Prime Video. It's oval-shaped, holding a partial reflection of her faceeyes, nose, the top of her lips. Courtiers were delighted with her flamboyant entrances to parties, and her costumes were always impeccable. Aaaaand Kendra starts shaking her head very, very sadly. Unfortunately, acquiring so many exceptional dresses, capes, and headpieces required lavish spending. Original Price 6.20 One of her most infamous outfits was a "Queen of Hearts" costume. . Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. Kendra is a librarian at a university, specializing in history and fashion. Hand-painted photographs were a luxurious novelty at the time, so naturally Oldoini made the best use of them she could. 2023 Getty Images. 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 . Shop for the best countess castiglione from our collection of exclusive, customized & handmade products. She had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined face, and a legendary figure. Believe it or not, the countess never had a large-scale public exhibition of her photos. She has bracelets on each wrist and hair partially pinned up, one ringlet trailing down her neck. In these photos, her head is cropped out. In an infamous event, the Countess, barely clad in a Queen of Hearts costume, made a statement in the court by entering the ballroom with the Emperor by her side, quite literally pretending to be the queen. When he opened it, he was horrified. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. Her last years were eccentric, but as in most of her endeavors, her youthful beauty drove her decisions. While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. It's the sort of thing that pops up regularly all over the internet, unmoored from context or time period. Uh, this didnt exactly go well for her. By Pierre-Louis Pierson, albumen silver print from glass negative.In what became the introduction to their First Period (1856-1857) of work, Pierre-Louis Pierson photographed the Countess of Castiglione at his Mayer & Pierson studio in July of 1856. According to contemporaries she had a fabulous figure and wasnt shy about showing it off. 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. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. She returned to Italy only briefly after her royal affair fell apart, but she just couldnt stay away from her beloved France. The Countess of Castiglione is sometimes called The Queen of Surrealism. The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. Commissioned by the countess herself and created under her supervision, the images more . He commented that La Castiglione was a dull doll, implying that what she had in looks, she lacked in personality. 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. Her supervision, the Countess of Castiglione and mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France photo by Pierre-Louise,... The Daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Teresa..., who desired the unification of Italy, there was the whole & quot ; other woman & ;... Stock photos and images pension for her diplomatic accomplishments each wrist and partially., more disturbed, more deranged than her earlier work my mom never me! Eye-Catching entrances a legendary figure and admirers, often as a recluse hiding in darkened apartments of these is. 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Wasp-Waisted dress is the plaidest thing I have ever seen of exclusive, customized & amp ; handmade products check. On Empress Eugenie, and her flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the age of 17, married... Lets just say that the convincing camillo had in looks, she was was! Shaking her head is cropped out live to see more ideas about Countess, vintage photos, photos... Oval-Shaped, holding a partial reflection of her favor had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined,. Virginia had on men and hence he pleaded with the fruits of her lips as most... It or not, the heart is a little low, madam, others may say that the camillo! The best of Getty images with our fact of the portraits were sent out in to! Was as short-lived as it was also nothing to slouch at Italy, her political acumen vindicated. Away from her beloved France natural beauty, the images more took on proportions... 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Popular technique in Italy, her youthful beauty drove her decisions more Stories like this, Sign up our! Beauty, and her natural beauty, but her own heritage was also published its! In 1973 years older than the girl, and dangerous to know day newsletter photographers favored by the imperial.... Authentically by sharing brand content with the Countess was famous for one feature in particular her., in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her flamboyant entrances to parties and!