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. The film portrays the life of the nineteenth-century Italian aristocrat Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, best known as the lover of Napoleon III of France. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. The studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. Glamorous, with an emphasis on form and fashion, the images were among the first of their kind. The Countess of Castiglione was popular in the court of Emperor Napoleon III. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Unfortunately, acquiring so many exceptional dresses, capes, and headpieces required lavish spending. Um. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! Her website, Dmod Couture, is one of the most well-known online resources for historical costumers. She went back in 1861 and stayed for goodgetting into a lot more trouble in the meantime. An image of the Countess with long hair and knife in her hand, titled "La Vengeance," was sent to her estranged husband when he attempted to gain custody of their child. Within her abode, the blinds were always drawn against the sunlight, and its rumored that she only left her home at night. Robert de Montesquiou, a Symbolist poet, dandy, and avid art collector, was fascinated by the Countess di Castiglione. First, the fabric. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 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. Yes! 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. Countess of Castiglione. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Instead, she sent her ex a present in the mail. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. At the peak of her Narcissism, she voluntarily modelled and took controversial pictures of herself. 1 Born into Novelty. Right before her arranged marriage to the older count, Oldoini sowed her wild oats, and then some. As an older woman robbed of the beauty that defined her, La Castiglione left the world quietly, in isolation and in darkness. It wasnt all disreputable behavior in the court of Napoleon III, and the countesss proximity to the emperor threw her into the paths of some of the most important figures in Europe at the time, including legendary German statesman Otto von Bismarck, who was like Angela Merkel before Angela Merkel was cool. You know youve made it when someone compares you to a literal goddess. They'd posthumously be described by critics as more morbid, more disturbed, more deranged than her earlier work. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. It holds just the right amount of intrigue with its arrangement of material and mirrors, as well as its ambiguous message: Vanity? La comtesse de Castiglione - Passy, 1861-1867. She Was Born Into Privilege. A Collection of Vintage Photos featuring the Countess de Castiglione (La Divine Comtesse) Posted by Embla on October 24, 2019 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 . ARCHIMEDES The Greatest Mathematician and Inventor, Habu Sake Facts & Information You Should Know About, How do Lobsters Communicate? Four years later, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, conceivably in part due to the influence that the Countess had exerted on Napoleon III. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. She seems to have made being beautiful the cornerstone of her identity and so was unable to cope when she began to age, though she remained a fine looking woman she no longer matched her self image. She also produced many photographs of herself depicting famous women from the Bible, history, and mythology. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography. The opulence of these ladies is over the top. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. She actively spurned the company of other women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was at balls. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. Well, today we're going to talk about the woman considered the queen of selfies and a true pioneer of photography in general. Nearly two years into their marriage, in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her husband. [7], Gabriele D'Annunzio authored an appreciation of the Countess that appeared as a preface to Montesquiou's work. She often stood in the middle of the court, asking men to worship her like the goddess she was. Whichever interpretation you prefer, it's probably a fitting one. While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. Commissioned by the countess herself and created under her supervision, the images more . A series of photos show leafless trees as massive sculptural . 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. If you own the rights to content here and wish it removed, please contact us. Log in. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. This is the famous "Queen of Hearts" colorized photo of the Countess of Castiglione by Pierson. . He was twelve years her senior. The Countess was famous for one feature in particular: Her eyes. Italian Virginia Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, here photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson with gouache. Learn more. By that time, the Countess of Castiglione was as well-known for her detailed and decadent outfits as she was for her beauty. Giorgio, in turn, adored her. Pinterest. Read our Cookie Policy. They had a son, Giorgio. The future countess was born Virginia Oldoini in 1837 in Florence; her father was a diplomat in what was . 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 . Sign up for our newsletter. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. 11 - 15 May 2022. 3 A Scurvy Expedition. "Fatal Opal, Curse of Spain's Court". 4.68, 6.20 He asked the countess to go to France and convince Napoleon to join their side. Her arrogance was stupendous. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Thanks! I am of a different essence.". The Oldoini cousins couldnt have picked a better mark than Napoleon III. Posts about La Comtesse de Castiglione written by Embla. Countess of Castiglione, c.1865 (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) Curiosities. . Later, I came across her fancy dress photos via their exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was hooked and years later, I played her at the San Francisco Dickens Fair. Designer Fruit Alchemy. 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, and the resulting body of work has intrigued people for generations. 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. 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?? 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. Genealogy for Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (1837 - 1899) family tree on Geni, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleon's wife. The swing pic may refer to this painting by Fragonard? The countess may have had a mystical hold over menbut her allure had one major flaw. But then the Countess took the feud to the next level. So now Oldoini wasnt just a spy, she was a honeypot. 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! You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. With Yvonne De Carlo, Georges Marchal, Paul Meurisse, Rossano Brazzi. This was all supposed to change at the turn of the century, when the aging model finally had big plans to display her collection of over 700 photos at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Others are disquieting. Want to know more? There was one, and just exactly one, bright spot in Virginias marriage to her fuddy-duddy count: Their son together, Giorgio. Even though it took the virtual dissolution of her marriage, the Countess of Castiglione did eventually succeed in her original mission. Touch device users can . Keep in mind that anyone can view public collectionsthey may also appear in recommendations and other places. The photograph, titled "Portrait in a Black Dress," is commonly assumed to be the first Pierson took of . Being a fashion showstopper, she was an icon and the talk of the town. She was born in 1837 to an aristocratic family in La . By the time she was a teen, men were regularly trying to bed the beauty. If so, her final hours were gruesome: she was eaten by a swarm of giant coconut crabs. 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). Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. The countesss meaning wasnt lost on Empress Eugenie, and the straight-laced woman ended up getting in a savage comeback. Translation: Your cleavage is showing, betch. 1-set-2021 - Esplora la bacheca "La CONTESSA DI CASTIGLIONE." di Giancarlo Assenti su Pinterest. The countess was one of the first airbrushers. 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. The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from . That same year, she returned to France and settled in Passy. She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. The legs of Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione (18371899), by Pierre-Louis Pierson, c1861/67 (Photo: Wikimedia) But photography is the true legacy of La Castiglione's life. understated; she did everything from choosing the camera angle to painting the photographs herself. The Countess of Castiglione, Virginia Oldoni, or as she is better known, La Castiglione was an aristocrat born in Florence (Italy). Artist Pierre-Louis Pierson. 5 The Countess and Her Inamorato. [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. Before 1861, 55 portraits were made, of which 34 were by Pierson. Copyright Odd Feed 2023. 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.. Some of the portraits were sent out in albums to friends and admirers, often as a signal of her favor. The Countess sure was bold. That photo of her on the swing looks like they were attempting a tableau of Fragonards 1767 painting, The Swing, or The Happy Accident. Plus, you know, there was the whole "other woman" thing. Marie Antoinette Syndrome: Overnight Highlights! Shapes, color and value, eye-catching visual impact on art. 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