Strangely, it's hard to find out much about the impact of Castiglione's photos during her own lifetime. Yes, but in film, swinging seems to have been used as a euphemism for sex I wonder how far back that goes? 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 . Where Does Dust Come From, and Does it Have a Sinister Side? 1. 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. During her lifetime, she was called "a miracle of beauty," like "Venus descended from Olympus"but, one of her contemporaries noted, she was so self-absorbed that "after a few moments she began to get on your nerves." In 1861, Italy unified into an official kingdom, thanks in no small part to the countesss tireless, breathy efforts. She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. 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. Knowing that Napoleon III was easy to seduce, he begged the Countess of Castiglione to plead the case for Italian unification to the emperor. La Sultane - La Comtesse de Castiglione, 1865. She was a diplomat, an opportunistic fashion rebel and a pioneer in the self-constructed photographic image. Posts about La Comtesse de Castiglione written by Embla. Or something else entirely? Some scholars argue that the Countess of Castiglione wasnt just the first model of our timeshe was also the first supermodel too. Well, Camillo must have been a smart man, because one day he rang up the countess with a brilliantand utterly scandalousproposition. 10.25.2016 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment. Italian Virgiana Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, holding an oval picture frame up to her eye,. 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. It was a short-lived affair, lasting less than a year. It was also published on its own in 1973. Were always looking for your input! 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. Some of the images are sumptuous and witty. 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?? First, a gorgeous photo of her in stunning plaid with a crazy wasp waist turned up in a history textbook my freshman year of college. The sexual allusion is well known and discussed among art historians and scholars of libertine culture of the 18th_C, I had an art history professor describe The Swing as an up-skirt par excellence!. Within her abode, the blinds were always drawn against the sunlight, and its rumored that she only left her home at night. WWE Survivor Series 2006 | movie | 2006 | Official Clip . Artist Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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 . She may have been persuasive because Paris was spared Prussian occupation.[5]. Sep 10, 2013 - The 19th-century Italian aristocrat, better known as as La Castiglione, was an iconic model, muse, mistress, narcissist, and queen of drama. 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 . Select from premium Virginia Oldoini, Countess Of Castiglione of the highest quality. While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. But it only got worse. All rights reserved. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. 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. The Countess was a Narcissist, seeking attention and applause to the point where men found her to be a pain in the neck. On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. The opulence of these ladies is over the top. Pinterest. 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. . By the time she gained notoriety as Napoleon IIIs mistress, she had bankrupted her husband, who pushed for an irrevocable marital separation due to her infidelity and insupportable spending habits. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. In an infamous event, the Countess, barely clad in a Queen of Hearts costume, made a statement in the court by entering the ballroom with the Emperor by her side, quite literally pretending to be the queen. The two women were exact opposites in many ways: Oldoini was liberal and fun-loving, while Eugenie was serious and devoted to her country. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. 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. Translation: Your cleavage is showing, betch. Daphne Guinness, eat your heart out. The Countess was known for her beauty and her flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the imperial court. A portrait of the Countess of Castiglione. Theres just NOTHING 19th century about this look, and 2. Picture it: a woman sitting with her face in perfect profile, skin bright against the background. Obsessed with her own image, the Countess de Castiglione was more than a mere narcissist. He left for Italy, leaving his Countess engaging in her newly found hobby in France. When her husband threatened to obtain custody of their child, she replied by sending him a photograph of herself in her Queen of Etruria costume, pointing a knife at the viewer. Glamorous, with an emphasis on form and fashion, the images were among the first of their kind. Before you start screaming wtf victory rolls??! 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. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. Sign up. InParisfor a delicate worldly-diplomatic mission, entrusted by her cousinCount of Cavourto the court of Napoleon III, the beautiful Virginia Oldoini (known as Countess of Castiglione), meets a young Mazzinian carbonaro (an ancient flame of hers), contrary to Cavourian politics. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Voyeurism? 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. 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. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. The Countess' story begins in the mid-19th century, when she was married off to an Italian count at age 17. [8], The Countess's life was depicted in a 1942 Italian film, The Countess of Castiglione,[9] and a 1954 Italian-French film, The Contessa's Secret, that starred Yvonne De Carlo.[10]. The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. The Countess is also depicted in Alexander Chee's novel The Queen of the Night. Now, the problem is the film is in Italian without any English subtitles, and my knowledge of Italian is limited to ordering food and booking hotel rooms. Feb 22, 2015 - Explore Roderick Johnson's board "Countess of Castiglione", followed by 175 people on Pinterest. Imperial Court. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpDoq0k649w. 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. On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Want to know more interesting facts? I dont think narcissist is the right word. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. She ended her life as a recluse hiding in darkened apartments. Ive had a thing for the real-life Virginia Oldoini, The Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899) for a loooong time now. By 1860, The Divine Countess had fallen from grace in Napoleons court and had become an eyesore for the Emperor who had moved onto newer conquests. Children. Edwardian Era. 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. Nah, you dont wanna do that. After four years in Italy, her political acumen was vindicated when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. Hand-painted photographs were a luxurious novelty at the time, so naturally Oldoini made the best use of them she could. She is clothed in incredible finery, and yet with the frame over her eye she is forcing you to look at her. Count Franceso went with her, and everybody knows that a middle-aged husband can really cramp your courtesan style. Sale Price 14.01 ), Yes, its found it. During her relationship with the French emperor, she met Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Otto von Bismarck and Adolphe Thiers. One of her most infamous outfits was a "Queen of Hearts" costume. 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. In case its not clear yet, the Countess of Castiglione wasnt a girls girl. But then the Countess took the feud to the next level. Oldoini doted on the boy as only a rich mommy can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him. There are masks and silk robes and, in one photograph, just a bedspread draped suggestively. She was born in 1837 to an aristocratic family in La . Hand-tinted photographs were regarded as both a luxury and a novelty. He was twelve years her senior. By dying in 1899, she also missed out on the 20th centuryan era where photography would only continue to dominate media and society. Genealogy profile for Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. Her adult life began when her beauty and noble blood allowed her to become the Countess da Castiglione through marriage to Francesco Verasis. . Upon receipt of this photo, her husband quieted and left the boy with his mother. Even though it took the virtual dissolution of her marriage, the Countess of Castiglione did eventually succeed in her original mission. She returned to Italy only briefly after her royal affair fell apart, but she just couldnt stay away from her beloved France. Library. As an older woman robbed of the beauty that defined her, La Castiglione left the world quietly, in isolation and in darkness. The countess infamously snapped pictures that exposed her bare feet and legs. Her arrogance was stupendous. Thanks for your time! She had many lovers, including a banker of the Rothschild family and the then director of the Louvre Museum.[2]. When he opened it, he was horrified. Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione ( 22 March 1837 - 28 November 1899 ), better known as La Castiglione, was an Italian courtesan and secret agent who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. Uh, this didnt exactly go well for her. Oh, but it wasnt over yet. She achieved notoriety by becoming Napoleon III's mistress, a scandal that led her husband to demand marital separation. Read more: Dead Woman in the Bathtub: Why Are We So Fascinated by Ophelia's Suicide? Many times, her self-absorption got the better of her and instead of seducing her dancing partner, she only made them yawn. This sartorial talent even once allowed her to make a legendary statement. Although the union gave Virginia the name we know her by today, it didnt give her a whole lot else. Shapes, color and value, eye-catching visual impact on art. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. 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