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. She was an important figure to the history of photography during the 19th century. Name : Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria OldoniBirth : 22 March 1837Death : 28 November 1899Title :The Countess of CastiglioneHusband : Francesco VerasisChildren : Giorgio Verasis di Castiglione. Soon after the divorce, The Countess took a rather popular photograph in todays time, dressed in a gorgeous gown and holding a knife in her hand, titled La Venegance, and sent it to her husband as a befitting reply. That wasp-waisted dress is the plaidest thing I have ever seen! It was a seemingly innocent photograph of the beautiful countess dressed up in a luxurious gownbut when the count looked closer, his blood ran cold. The countess may have had a mystical hold over menbut her allure had one major flaw. Italian Virginia Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, here photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson with gouache. It holds just the right amount of intrigue with its arrangement of material and mirrors, as well as its ambiguous message: Vanity? 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. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. She may have been persuasive because Paris was spared Prussian occupation.[5]. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. They made her out to be some sort of gigantic narcissist who only posed for photographs. 14.01, 17.51 She wished to set up an exhibit of her photographs at the Exposition Universelle (1900), though this did not happen. Giorgio, in turn, adored her. 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. But then the Countess took the feud to the next level. I just gagged, and not in the good way. Her narcissism in regard to her own photographic image was a precursor to the self-portraits we've seen throughout the 20th century. The Italian aristocrats legendary beauty and photographic misadventures turned her into the worlds first model, but thats not what made her infamous. Role. There are masks and silk robes and, in one photograph, just a bedspread draped suggestively. Search. It was also published on its own in 1973. The Countess' story begins in the mid-19th century, when she was married off to an Italian count at age 17. 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? comtesse de Castiglione (1837-1899)' photo de 1895 coloristation d'apres Pierre-Louis Pierson. P. Petra von Straks. 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. After learning about her expensive taste in men and attire, both not quite hidden,The Count of Castiglione divorced his wife in 1857, which did not come as a surprise to her. Some of the portraits were sent out in albums to friends and admirers, often as a signal of her favor. But then the Countess took the feud to the next level. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. 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 Countess returned to Italy in 1857 when her affair with Napoleon III was over. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 Most of the images they produced were of specific characters drawn from myth, art, literature, or the Bible, including Lady Macbeth, Anne Boleyn, the queen of Eritrea, Judith before beheading Holofernes, a nun, and even a corpse. The Countess of Castigliones self-seclusion later in her life was rooted not just in vanity but also in tragedy. As her name implies, Oldoinis parents had big expectations for the little girlexpectations that would soon ruin her entire life. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. The use of most of her photos is unclear. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. 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. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collectionsthey may also appear in recommendations and other places. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. The Wikipedia article for Virginia Oldoni, Countess of Castiglione, places her behind the scenes at some critical points in Franco-Italian history, France supporting Italian unification and Prussia not occupying Paris. Instead, she preferred to stand in the middle of the room and let men fawn over her as if she were a shrine. 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. "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. You are leaving too early.. The Countess was famous for one feature in particular: Her eyes. She was a diplomat, an opportunistic fashion rebel and a pioneer in the self-constructed photographic image. All thanks to him, the relic could finally be displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where she deserves to be. Beloved of Napoleon III<br><br>Virginia Oldoini was born on March 22, 1837 in Florence. 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. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings. It might seem ordinary for us today, however it was a grave act of shame for women in the 19th century. Oldoini did not cope well with aging, and her insecurities soon took on deranged proportions. Do you ever watch movies in languages you cant understand? La comtesse de Castiglione - Passy, 1861-1867. She donned this title at the young age of 17, causing the men and women of the royal courts she subsequently frequented to know her primarily as La Castiglione. She not only entered the ballroom with the emperor on her arm, she also did it while wearing a Queen of Hearts costume. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. This did not shake our Countess as she was content with her new venture. [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. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. In recent years, the Countess has been dubbed everything from "selfie queen" to "supreme narcissist" to Surrealist pioneer. In her own writings, she refers to herself in the third person. 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! 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. Dead Woman in the Bathtub: Why Are We So Fascinated by Ophelia's Suicide. At the age of 17, Virginia married Francesco Verazis. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Many times, her self-absorption got the better of her and instead of seducing her dancing partner, she only made them yawn. Her cousin, Camilo Benso, was a minister in the court of Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia. I recently stumbled across this 1942 version starring Doris Duranti as the countess on YouTube (the other main film about the countess is the 1954The Contessas Secret starring Yvonne de Carlo; if anyone knows where I can watch it, let me know!). She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. Being a fashion showstopper, she was an icon and the talk of the town. 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. In 1857, barely a year after the well-heeled couple traveled to Paris, Count Francesco left court for his native Italy in a huff, leaving his young, impressionable wife behind. 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. All rights reserved. She would later influence politics again when she was called to Otto von Bismarcks side in a successful attempt to discourage his armies from occupying Paris. Victoria And Albert Museum. 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 . The fashion choice let Eugenie know that even if she wasnt Empress, the countess still reigned over Napoleons heart. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography. Her memoirs reveal some disturbing and embarrassing details. But for all this praise, not everyone was as enamored. 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. She titled the photo La Venegance, just to make her message extra clear. 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. | A Bizarre Fact That Will Blow Your Mind, Zunzuncito | Bee Size Bird You Didt Know About, Lake Natron | The Lake That Turns Animals To Stone, The Aztec Gods: The Top 10 Most Important Aztec Gods And Goddesses You Should Know About, The Unicorn: Scotlands Fabled National Animal. Most tragically, this was not to be. RF2HW4NH9 - Art inspired by Countess de Castiglione, 1895, Albumen silver print from glass negative, Approximately 14.3 x 9.9 cm (5 5/8 x 3 7/8 in. Buzz Buddy. 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." She ended her life as a recluse hiding in darkened apartments. Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. Unfortunately, the story does not end well for this selfie beauty queen. In 1855, their only son, Giorgio, was . These actions protected her from watching her own beauty decay, and allowed her admirers to only remember the beauty she was in her youth. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. He left for Italy, leaving his Countess engaging in her newly found hobby in France. Commissioned by the countess herself and created under her supervision, the images more . Read more: Dead Woman in the Bathtub: Why Are We So Fascinated by Ophelia's Suicide? The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. The Countess sure was bold. 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!. Robert de Montesquiou, a Symbolist poet, dandy, and avid art collector, was fascinated by the Countess di Castiglione. In her later years the Countess removed all mirrors from her apartment, refusing to watch her beauty decay. How Are Cotton Candy Grapes Made? This unique personality from the 19 th century is none other that of the Countess of Castiglione, whose own life merits a novel and whose art turned out to be quite extravagant. As commented by Hundred Heroines historian Haley Drolet, 'In what is perhaps her most recognisable photograph, La comtesse de Castiglione (1865), Oldoni stares directly at the viewer through a small black frame. Find Virginia Oldoini, Countess Of Castiglione stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Recent evidence suggests that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The Countess of Castiglione in collaboration with Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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.. The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. Virginia gladly accepted the offer, with the condition of using any means necessary to lure the King. If so, then presumably swings and sex will have been connected since they were first invented. She wasnt cheap, either. A portrait of the Countess of Castiglione. This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from the 1850s to the 1890s. Portrait Photography. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. In the summer of 2014, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling. 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. People called her beauty a miracle and named her as la divinia contessa. Uh, not by any stretch of the imagination. After her death, he collected 433 of her photographs, all of which entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of gigantic narcissist who only posed for photographs age 17 beauty decay not by any stretch of the portraits sent. Model, but thats not what made her out to be some sort of gigantic narcissist who only for! 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