Four years later, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, conceivably in part due to the influence that the Countess had exerted on Napoleon III. 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. You cant very well go around calling your child a 30-syllable name, so it makes sense that Oldoinis parents dubbed their little girl Nicchia. Hence she was popularly known by her nickname Nicchia, meaning niche in Italian, a name quite fitting for an ornamental woman. She was, in a word, disgustingly vain. Original Price 6.20 Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. ), Photographs, Pierre-Louis Pierson (French, 1822-1913, Classic works modernized by Artotop with a splash of modernity. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Along with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Virginia managed to take around 700 photographs of herself. Yep, he wanted Oldoini to become a spybut that wasnt all he instructed her to do. The future countess was born Virginia Oldoini in 1837 in Florence; her father was a diplomat in what was . Oldoini never did reconcile with her husbandand though this would get her into trouble later, she didnt much mind for the time being. All rights reserved. In the end, Oldoinis illicit dalliance with Napoleon III was as short-lived as it was tragic. She was no mere muse or passive model, however: The Countess obsessively and fastidiously art directed each photo, sometimes even choosing the camera angle or painting over the printed images herself. . Well, she did pay for the consequences of her nastiness. 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. Sadly, as well see, she might have had a darker reason for this behavior. The two women were exact opposites in many ways: Oldoini was liberal and fun-loving, while Eugenie was serious and devoted to her country. The young girl reportedly embarked on a steamy affair with a hunky naval officer right before tying the knot, which suggests the soon-to-be notorious courtesan desired things beyond domestic bliss from the very beginning. He served in a political role as a minister of the King of Sardinia, who desired the unification of Italy. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Duly, she ignored the usual diplomatic routes and inveigled herself into prime position as the emperor's mistress. Virginia had successfully enticed the Emperor and became his mistress, much to the dissatisfaction of his wife, Empress Eugenie. In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer and Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. Many times, her self-absorption got the better of her and instead of seducing her dancing partner, she only made them yawn. Countess of Castiglione Facts. Of all the relationships the Countess formed in Paris, the most significantand by far most enduringwas her relationship with the camera. In her own writings, she refers to herself in the third person. Children. I once watched several hours of La Vengenza (a Spanish Soap opera) when I was at home before I had to go to work on Univision. 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. Yes! Her room was painted black, windows sealed and mirrors removed from every nook and cranny. Not surprising enough, the Countess took questionable pictures of herself, baring her legs and feet to the camera. Watch fullscreen. The Countess sure was bold. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. 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. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. The dress, while dotted with hearts, was almost entirely see-through, and the good old countess wasnt wearing a corset. 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.. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. Costume ball at the palace of Tuileries: Napoleon III and the Countess de Castiglione 1867, Carpeaux Jean Baptiste , Orsay Museum, France,. 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. Gaining the attention of Napoleon III proved more difficult than expected. A few of her admirers were fixated upon her beauty and art. | Gown for the Comtesse di Castiglione, Ert (Romain de Tirtoff), 1861-1867, LACMA. In 1855, their only son, Giorgio, was . 5 The Countess and Her Inamorato. Instead, she sent her ex a present in the mail. comtesse de Castiglione (1837-1899)' photo de 1895 coloristation d'apres Pierre-Louis Pierson. 11 - 15 May 2022. Okay this dressing gown just screams 1940s. After her death, he collected 433 of her photographs, all of which entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 4,500. With the fruits of her husbands fortune and her natural beauty, the Countess of Castiglione affected grandiose and eye-catching entrances. Sure, the countess was beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep. This scandalous move of hers took the forum by surprise. He spent thirteen years writing a biography, La Divine Comtesse, which appeared in 1913. She rarely left its walls (painted black, of course) during daylight hours. Most tragically, this was not to be. 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. The photographs,commissioned by the countess and created under her supervision,were both self-advertisement and self-expression as . Quite expected from a Queen. ", For More Stories Like This, Sign Up for Our Newsletter. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. She was titled La divina Contessa literally translating to The Divine Countess for her beauty and charm. September 14, 2020. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. Read more: Dead Woman in the Bathtub: Why Are We So Fascinated by Ophelia's Suicide? 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. In 1871, just after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, she was called to a secret meeting with Otto von Bismarck to explain to him how the German occupation of Paris could be fatal to his interests. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Well, today we're going to talk about the woman considered the queen of selfies and a true pioneer of photography in general. 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. Some 90 works from a remarkable series of photographic portraits documenting the public life and private fantasies of a legendary 19th-century beauty go on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 19, 2000, in the exhibition "La Divine Comtesse," Photographs of the Countess de Castiglione. Oh, but it wasnt over yet. ( Odd Feed). Before 1861, 55 portraits were made, of which 34 were by Pierson. La Comtesse de Castiglione (The eyes) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1863-1866 via ArtNet. So now Oldoini wasnt just a spy, she was a honeypot. Uh, not by any stretch of the imagination. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Italian Virgiana Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, holding an oval picture frame up to her eye,. Sign up for our newsletter. ), Yes, its found it. In the summer of 2014, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling. 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. When he tried to gain full custody over their only son Giorgio not so subtly indicating her bitterness and disgust towards her ex-husband. Even after her tenure as a royal mistress, the countess played an important role in European politics. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Unable to confront her fading looks, the middle-aged countess insisted on spending her final years in black-colored rooms with closed blinds and no mirrors. Search. La Contessa descended into madness, stemming from her undying self-obsession and Narcissism. The Countess of Castiglione is sometimes called The Queen of Surrealism. Soon enough, it all came crashing down. Granted Castiglione was obsessed by her own beauty but so was everybody around her. She may have been persuasive because Paris was spared Prussian occupation.[5]. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. She would leave the apartment only at night. While many photos elevated her, her wardrobe, and the inventiveness of her spirit, other photosespecially those taken in her later yearswere unsettling or macabre. The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Suave Facts About Timothy Dalton, The Disappearing Bond, Suave Facts About Sean Connery, Hollywood Rogue, Mysterious Facts About Josephine Earp, The Mendacious Wild West Woman, Scandalous Facts About Antony Armstrong-Jones, The Earl Of Snowdon. The Countess of Castiglione is one of the most bewildering woman known to history. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography. The first book, "Exposition," translated by Amanda DeMarco, is about the Countess of Castiglione, a nineteenth-century aristocrat who dedicated herself to becoming the most photographed woman . There was one, and just exactly one, bright spot in Virginias marriage to her fuddy-duddy count: Their son together, Giorgio. 2 Early marriage. View Etsys Privacy Policy. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Were always looking for your input! Filmmakers. 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. In other words: Bed that boy, and fast. Genres Drama History. Born Virginie Oldoini in 1837, this Italian worman coming from Tuscan nobility married Franois Verasis, Count of Castiglione, in 1854. 7 The First Model. 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. If there was one thing Virginia could not come to terms with, it had to be ageing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpDoq0k649w. Giorgio Verasis di Castiglione (1855-1879) 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. She was born in 1837 to an aristocratic family in La . After four years in Italy, her political acumen was vindicated when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. After a lifetime of being camera ready, Oldoini passed on November 28, 1899.
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