Although the union gave Virginia the name we know her by today, it didnt give her a whole lot else. [11], The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by, Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoni Rapallini, Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. She went back in 1861 and stayed for goodgetting into a lot more trouble in the meantime. After the death of her son, Giorgio who succumbed to smallpox, in 1879, she felt disgraced and refused to leave her house. Price on request. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleon's wife. Virginia had successfully enticed the Emperor and became his mistress, much to the dissatisfaction of his wife, Empress Eugenie. Duranti is FAR TOO OLD to pull it off. 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 . Her cousin, Camillo, Count of Cavour, was a minister of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia (that included also Piedmont, Val d'Aosta, Liguria and Savoy). I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. And that wasnt all. The Countess of Castiglione was obsessed with her own beauty, and meticulously art directed hundreds of portraits of herself over the course of her life. Plus, you know, there was the whole "other woman" thing. Edwardian Era. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. IMDbPro See more details at IMDbPro. Copyright Odd Feed 2023. After sitting for her first portrait, the Countess returned again and again, working intensively with Pierson from 1856 to 1867, and then again towards the end of her life in the 1890s. As it was prevalent in ancient times, the Count was 12 years older than his wife, deeming their marriage inharmonious. Very sad. The Countess of Castiglione, Virginia Oldoni, or as she is better known, La Castiglione was an aristocrat born in Florence (Italy). Beloved of Napoleon III<br><br>Virginia Oldoini was born on March 22, 1837 in Florence. The countess may have had a mystical hold over menbut her allure had one major flaw. Mariah Carey could never. Oldoini showed an eerie attachment to her only son Giorgio, but it didnt stop at doting. Giorgio, in turn, adored her. Filmmakers. She died on November 28, 1899, at the age of sixty-two, and was buried at the Pre Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Pinterest. She is clothed in incredible finery, and yet with the frame over her eye she is forcing you to look at her. Hence she was popularly known by her nickname Nicchia, meaning niche in Italian, a name quite fitting for an ornamental woman. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. Born Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoni 1937 to an aristocratic family from La Spezia, Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castigli. 4.68, 6.20 Others claim that they were largely a private collectionrarely circulated, and never used to commercial ends. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. After learning about her expensive taste in men and attire, both not quite hidden,The Count of Castiglione divorced his wife in 1857, which did not come as a surprise to her. It wasnt boredom, but indiscretion which provoked Napoleon to discard her. Duly, she ignored the usual diplomatic routes and inveigled herself into prime position as the emperor's mistress. She often stood in the middle of the court, asking men to worship her like the goddess she was. She may have been persuasive because Paris was spared Prussian occupation.[5]. She was part of the demi-monde, women on the edge of society supported by wealthy lovers. 7 The First Model. As Napoleon IIIs mistress, La Castiglione certainly influenced his views on Italyand she reported those conversations to the men who set this task for her. Turns out that while Napoleon and the countess were very pleased with themselves, Francesco wasnt so ecstatic, and her bitter husband soon demanded a separation. Genres Drama History. Uh, this didnt exactly go well for her. He was twelve years her senior. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. Portrait Photography. A pioneering model and a bounty of Narcissism , she took self love to a completely different tangent. The Italian aristocrats legendary beauty and photographic misadventures turned her into the worlds first model, but thats not what made her infamous. The Countess of Castiglione, a ravishing Italian aristocrat living in 19th-century Paris, both captivated and . With the conservative, almost prudish taboo the Victorians had against showing womens legs, ankles, and feet, her outfit astonished partygoers while bringing her extraordinary beauty to the forefront. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Log in. Most famously, Robert de Montesquieu collected hundreds of her photographs and wrote a biography of her that he titled La Divine Comtesse. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Scherzo di Follia by Pierre-Louis Pierson, Vintage European Art Print, Countess of Castiglione Photo, PRINTABLE Wall Art, Digital Download. Listen, girls know how to get things done. In this fragment of a reflection, her gaze is steady, staring right down the camera lens. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Would love your thoughts, please comment. She was, in a word, disgustingly vain. 11 - 15 May 2022. Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (22 March 1837 - 28 November 1899), better known as La Castiglione, was born to an aristocratic family from La Spezia.She was a 19th-century Italian aristocrat who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. Tags1860sCountess of CastiglioneEmpress EugenieGino Sensanigreat hairinspired by a true storyItalyNapoleon IIIshuddup I love biopics. This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from . Feb 4, 2014 - Explore Alessandra Casiraghi's board "Virginia Oldoini", followed by 216 people on Pinterest. | 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. [3] George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in 1857. She goes home and has some strained conversations with a man who I presume to be her husband. Victoria And Albert Museum. The countesss totally unbiased response? 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. 1. Her last years were eccentric, but as in most of her endeavors, her youthful beauty drove her decisions. As her name implies, Oldoinis parents had big expectations for the little girlexpectations that would soon ruin her entire life. Hand-painted photographs were a luxurious novelty at the time, so naturally Oldoini made the best use of them she could. She had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined face, and a legendary figure. Sure, the countess was beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep. Over the next four decades she directed Pierre-Louis Pierson to help her create 700 different photographs in which she re-created the signature moments of her life for the camera. Wouldnt you know, she got custody of Giorgio for the rest of his life. Virginia Oldoini, Countess Castiglione, was a voracious client of both couture and photography, acquiring fashion from the new maisons de couture of Worth and Pingat. When he tried to gain full custody over their only son Giorgio not so subtly indicating her bitterness and disgust towards her ex-husband. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. It was a seemingly innocent photograph of the beautiful countess dressed up in a luxurious gownbut when the count looked closer, his blood ran cold. Most of the photographs depict the Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Queen of Hearts dress. 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. As a result, he became the most photographed child of the 19th century. 10.25.2016 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment. George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in . 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. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Rest in peace, you OG diva. And that's how she continues to exist: as an image, a face, a set of poses meticulously choreographed and endlessly marveled over. Whenever she wasnt perfectly satisfied with a photograph, shed use hand-painting to soften her unflattering angles and put herself in the best light. 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. From 1856 to 1895, she had more than 400 photographs of herself . Her website, Dmod Couture, is one of the most well-known online resources for historical costumers. Some of the images are sumptuous and witty. While Germany was considering occupying France, Oldoinis old friend Otto von Bismarck called her up personally and set up a secret meeting to ask her advice on the matter. While many photos elevated her, her wardrobe, and the inventiveness of her spirit, other photosespecially those taken in her later yearswere unsettling or macabre. She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. Robert de Montesquiou, a French poet, was once such Romeo so obsessed with his Juliet, that he collected 400 of her photographs. Countess of Castiglione, c.1865 (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) Curiosities. The Divine Countess faced a not so divine death in 1899. Visual content is copyrighted to its respective owners, and inclusion here is under fair use for criticism, comment, and news reporting purposes. Once she even used this photographic art to communicate with others. 4 A Vile Proposition. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. Well, Camillo must have been a smart man, because one day he rang up the countess with a brilliantand utterly scandalousproposition. Nearly two years into their marriage, in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her husband. With her notorious ways, she succeeded in enticing king Napoleon III to help unify Italy, which was achieved in 1861. Copyright 2007-2020 Frock Flicks, Trystan L. Bass, Kendra Van Cleave, & Sarah Lorraine Goodman. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The best part? She would later influence politics again when she was called to Otto von Bismarcks side in a successful attempt to discourage his armies from occupying Paris. that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Virginia Oldoini, infamously known as The Countess of Castiglione, was a femme fatale, and an icon in her time, breaking traditional stereotypes, turning eyes and bending knees, wherever she set foot. I saw that exhibition at the Met! This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from the 1850s to the 1890s. It holds just the right amount of intrigue with its arrangement of material and mirrors, as well as its ambiguous message: Vanity? 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. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. 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. Knowing that Napoleon III was easy to seduce, he begged the Countess of Castiglione to plead the case for Italian unification to the emperor. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. She actively spurned the company of other women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was at balls. 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! 1860. Virginia Oldoiniknown better to history as the Countess of Castiglionewas mad, bad, and dangerous to know. 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. Um. Moreover, these rudimentary special effects could smooth, enhance, and flatter their subjects, transforming and elevating them. Of all the relationships the Countess formed in Paris, the most significantand by far most enduringwas her relationship with the camera. 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. 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. James Hyman Gallery. After teaming up with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Oldoini amassed over 700 19th-century selfies. By Kendra on November 7, 2019 in Nineteenth Century. [2], In 18561857, she entered the social circle of European royalty. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. Theres an unfortunately LONG TIME spent in this questionably costumed/haired period: 1. Upon receipt of this photo, her husband quieted and left the boy with his mother. 5 The Countess and Her Inamorato. 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 . Now I know better. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. . She paired with the imperial court photographers Mayer & Pierson from 1856 to 1895, utilizing the technology of painted photographs to craft multiple, sometimes conflicting, portraits of her nature. 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. Includes over fifty rare portraits of the demi-monde, women on the edge society! But thats not what made her infamous the 1890s ], in 1855, she took love! 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