Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. Instead, she preferred to stand in the middle of the room and let men fawn over her as if she were a shrine. 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 . Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. Artifice? The Countess is also depicted in Alexander Chee's novel The Queen of the Night. 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. understated; she did everything from choosing the camera angle to painting the photographs herself. 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. When she did leave, she would wear dark veils and only go out at night so she could cover all evidence of her shameful age. Today. Ive had a thing for the real-life Virginia Oldoini, The Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899) for a loooong time now. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. I dont know Spanish more than some numbers and a handful of words to order deli items. Unfortunately, acquiring so many exceptional dresses, capes, and headpieces required lavish spending. comtesse de Castiglione (1837-1899)' photo de 1895 coloristation d'apres Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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 . In 1940, the British discovered a partial human skeleton on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro. 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. She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. Her playful photoshoots anticipated the Surrealist aesthetic that would dominate the art scene after she passed In one meta photo, she peers at the viewer through a cameradrawing attention to the ways shes both looking at you while youre looking at her. It's oval-shaped, holding a partial reflection of her faceeyes, nose, the top of her lips. Would love your thoughts, please comment. But then the Countess took the feud to the next level. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. Want to know more interesting facts? Her level of control over these projects cannot be. Well, Camillo must have been a smart man, because one day he rang up the countess with a brilliantand utterly scandalousproposition. Not surprising enough, the Countess took questionable pictures of herself, baring her legs and feet to the camera. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Her memoirs reveal some disturbing and embarrassing details. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Seductive Facts About The Secret Lives Of Courtesans, These Eerie Supernatural Experiences Sent A Chill Down Our Spines, Overheard Once, Forgotten Never: These Hurtful Comments Are Completely Brutal, Everyone Has A Limit: These Moments Made People Say Enough Is Enough, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, Frances Uncrowned Queen, These Jerks Had No Idea Who They Were Messing With. Others claim that they were largely a private collectionrarely circulated, and never used to commercial ends. This scandalous move of hers took the forum by surprise. 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. ( Odd Feed). Portrait Photography. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. Italian Virgiana Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, holding an oval picture frame up to her eye,. 5 The Countess and Her Inamorato. Pinterest. Learn more. Though this might sound tame, these poses were so indecent by 19th-century standards, she had to crop out her face. He eventually collected over 400 photos in her massive collection, which are now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Countess of Castiglione Facts. 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. As well see later, though, Francesco wasnt even done yet. Must find out. He spent thirteen years writing a biography, La Divine Comtesse, which appeared in 1913. Were always looking for your input! The dress, while dotted with hearts, was almost entirely see-through, and the good old countess wasnt wearing a corset. Her birth name- Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoni, was as long as the legacy she left behind. Count Camilo, was fixed with the ambition to unify Italy. 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. 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. Her cousin Camillo Benso was even a minister for the King of Sardinia. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. But unlike our pitiful selfies, Oldoini turned self-obsession into a cottage industryin fact, its what shes famous for today. Her cousin, Camilo Benso, was a minister in the court of Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia. Toward the end of her life, following a hiatus of some twenty-five years, the Countess da Castiglione resumed her sessions with Pierson. 3 A Scurvy Expedition. 1. Her ego was so grand that she usually refused to speak to women, regarding them as inferior to her beauty. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Oldoini doted on the boy as only a rich mommy can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him. . With her notorious ways, she succeeded in enticing king Napoleon III to help unify Italy, which was achieved in 1861. Kendra has been a fixture in the online costuming world since the late 1990s. Some of the portraits were sent out in albums to friends and admirers, often as a signal of her favor. Victoria And Albert Museum. (Her cousin, the minister Camillo Cavour, reportedly told her to "succeed by any means you wishbut succeed!") 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. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. Virginia had friends in high places. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. She was notoriously obsessive about this aspect of her work, repositioning the camera with persnickety precision when she didnt like what she saw. [3] George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in 1857. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. The Countess Castiglione was a woman of multiple personalities -- Cleopatra crossed with Blanche Dubois. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. Oldoinis photograph was a warning shot to her estranged husband: In the portrait, the well-dressed countess was also holding a knife in her hand, half-hidden in the folds of her dress. I saw that exhibition at the Met! (40% off), Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! She was born in 1837 to an aristocratic family in La . View Etsys Privacy Policy. Voyeurism? In 1857, she separated from her husband, whom she had openly cheated on and bankrupted. Being a fashion showstopper, she was an icon and the talk of the town. The best part? (689) $5.95. You know youve made it when someone compares you to a literal goddess. She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. A number of photographs depict her in poses that were risqu for the era notably, images that expose her bare legs and feet. Ignored by her father, she was educated by her grandfather Ranieri Lamporecchi. 10.25.2016 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment. Copyright Odd Feed 2023. By Kendra on November 7, 2019 in Nineteenth Century. Similar Movies. Moreover, these rudimentary special effects could smooth, enhance, and flatter their subjects, transforming and elevating them. All Rights Reserved. Vintage Photography. On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. Find Countess Of Castiglione stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. We want our readers to trust us. 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. When the Countess bragged and showed off the many gifts the emperor gave her, these lapses in her discretion prompted the dissolution of their relationship. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography. Oldoini did not cope well with aging, and her insecurities soon took on deranged proportions. 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. (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 . 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. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. 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. 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. It wasnt boredom, but indiscretion which provoked Napoleon to discard her. However, she left a legacy behind for 19th-century women to break conventional chains. The separation wasnt just an idle threat, either. 4 A Vile Proposition. Her website, Dmod Couture, is one of the most well-known online resources for historical costumers. Victorian. Virginia had successfully enticed the Emperor and became his mistress, much to the dissatisfaction of his wife, Empress Eugenie. 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. Aaaaand Kendra starts shaking her head very, very sadly. 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. La Contessa descended into madness, stemming from her undying self-obsession and Narcissism. 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. Almost as soon as she set foot in Paris, Oldoini was notorious as Napoleons mistress, and she took no trouble to hide the affair. . Select from premium Countess Of Castiglione of the highest quality. Italy, which are now housed in the online costuming world since the 1990s! The early history of photography wasnt even done yet to order deli items I using... Educated by her father, she preferred to stand in the early history of photography Castiglione of image... 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