Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Along with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Virginia managed to take around 700 photographs of herself. This is the famous "Queen of Hearts" colorized photo of the Countess of Castiglione by Pierson. Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoni Rapallini (French: Virginie lisabeth Louise Charlotte Antoinette Thrse Marie Oldoni) was born on 22 March 1837 in Florence, Tuscany to Marquis Filippo Oldoni Rapallini and Isabella Lamporecchi, members of the minor Tuscan nobility; she was often known by her nickname of "Nicchia". Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. A series of photos show leafless trees as massive sculptural . The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. People called her beauty a miracle and named her as la divinia contessa. 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. Even though it took the virtual dissolution of her marriage, the Countess of Castiglione did eventually succeed in her original mission. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. It wasnt boredom, but indiscretion which provoked Napoleon to discard her. (originally appeared in the Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct 1898) A few superstitious Spaniards believe that the long series of misfortunes that has befallen Spain and . Visualizza altre idee su virginia, foto, croce di diamanti. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. (40% off), Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! The meeting takes place precisely at the crucial moment of the countesss intrigues at the French court, and seeing her ancient love rekindles in her the passion never completely dormant. He tried to claim custody of their only son Giorgio, using his wifes lavish lifestyle as proof of her bad mothering. La Contessa descended into madness, stemming from her undying self-obsession and Narcissism. Oldoini doted on the boy as only a rich mommy can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him. Being a fashion showstopper, she was an icon and the talk of the town. 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. In the 1890s she began a brief collaboration with Pierson again, though her later photographs clearly show her loss of any critical judgement, possibly due to her growing mental instability. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleons wife. He listened. The photo projects continued occasionally. She goes home and has some strained conversations with a man who I presume to be her husband. First, the fabric. 2 Early marriage. Oldoini never did reconcile with her husbandand though this would get her into trouble later, she didnt much mind for the time being. The Metropolitan Museum of New York City held a Castiglione exhibition, including this picture, and posted it on the Internet with this paragraph as part of the notes: "At the costume ball held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 17, 1857, the Countess di Castiglione caused a sensation by . Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Virginia was given into marriage at the age of 17, to Francesco Verasis, the Count of Castiglione in 1854, hence becoming the Countess at the prime of her life. She often hand painted over her photographs and directed her shots, to put forward her best angle, much like a supermodel. Others claim that they were largely a private collectionrarely circulated, and never used to commercial ends. A pioneering model and a bounty of Narcissism , she took self love to a completely different tangent. Glamorous, with an emphasis on form and fashion, the images were among the first of their kind. When Oldoini broke up with Napoleon III, she didnt stop entertaining, and she continued to have hot and heavy affairs with a series of important suitors throughout her life. 7 The First Model. "Fatal Opal, Curse of Spain's Court". While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. He was twelve years older than her. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. Scherzo di Follia by Pierre-Louis Pierson, Vintage European Art Print, Countess of Castiglione Photo, PRINTABLE Wall Art, Digital Download. The photographs,commissioned by the countess and created under her supervision,were both self-advertisement and self-expression as . 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. 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. Nevertheless, her allure and artistry came with a baggage, known to only a few. As it was prevalent in ancient times, the Count was 12 years older than his wife, deeming their marriage inharmonious. The French court photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson took more than 400 portraits of the Countess Castiglione, considered the most beautiful woman of her time,during a 40-year collaboration. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. James Hyman Gallery. Her narcissism in regard to her own photographic image was a precursor to the self-portraits we've seen throughout the 20th century. She rarely left its walls (painted black, of course) during daylight hours. Touch device users can . Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. In her later years the Countess removed all mirrors from her apartment, refusing to watch her beauty decay. Mariah Carey could never. Her level of control over these projects cannot be. September 14, 2020. The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. 5 The Countess and Her Inamorato. 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. As well see later, though, Francesco wasnt even done yet. I dont think narcissist is the right word. IMDbPro See more details at IMDbPro. I saw that exhibition at the Met! To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Her room was painted black, windows sealed and mirrors removed from every nook and cranny. Edwardian Era. Which makes the countess infamous act of revenge all the more savage. The poet and dandy Robert de Montesquiou was obsessed with her even when she was alive, and his ardor only grew. Read more: Maria Rasputin: The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. Hand-painted photographs were a luxurious novelty at the time, so naturally Oldoini made the best use of them she could. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. Portrait Photography. She went back in 1861 and stayed for goodgetting into a lot more trouble in the meantime. 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. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. As her name implies, Oldoinis parents had big expectations for the little girlexpectations that would soon ruin her entire life. 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. Sale Price 14.01 I would prefer a more historical and clothing accurate movie than the 1940s one and Im wondering since the countess was a supporter of the Italian Union did she know the Milanese Countess Maffei who was portrayed in the biopic series Verdi which had good costumes? 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. The Countess of Castiglione made her mark in very difficult times. Kendra is a librarian at a university, specializing in history and fashion. She achieved notoriety by becoming Napoleon III's mistress, a scandal that led her husband to demand marital separation. 1860. She was an important figure to the history of photography during the 19th century. Artist Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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. In 1855, their only son, Giorgio, was . While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. But photography is the true legacy of La Castigliones life. With Yvonne De Carlo, Georges Marchal, Paul Meurisse, Rossano Brazzi. How Are Cotton Candy Grapes Made? 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. Uh, not by any stretch of the imagination. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. She was notoriously obsessive about this aspect of her work, repositioning the camera with persnickety precision when she didnt like what she saw. 1-set-2021 - Esplora la bacheca "La CONTESSA DI CASTIGLIONE." di Giancarlo Assenti su Pinterest. (Her cousin, the minister Camillo Cavour, reportedly told her to "succeed by any means you wishbut succeed!") 14.01, 17.51 Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Victorian. She sought to emulate her life, both as she lived it and as she imagined it. We want our readers to trust us. Robert de Montesquiou, a Symbolist poet, dandy, and avid art collector, was fascinated by the Countess di Castiglione. By the time she was a teen, men were regularly trying to bed the beauty. Tags1860sCountess of CastiglioneEmpress EugenieGino Sensanigreat hairinspired by a true storyItalyNapoleon IIIshuddup I love biopics. 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