The photographs,commissioned by the countess and created under her supervision,were both self-advertisement and self-expression as . The Countess sure was bold. 2023 Getty Images. Right before her arranged marriage to the older count, Oldoini sowed her wild oats, and then some. The Countess of Castiglione would appear to have been obsessed with her own image since she had herself photographed during a period of over forty years by Pierre-Louis Pierson (1822-1913), the first photo being taken in July 1856, the last in 1895. If there was one thing Virginia could not come to terms with, it had to be ageing. Where Does Dust Come From, and Does it Have a Sinister Side? Nearly two years into their marriage, in 1855, she was sent to Paris along with her husband. Uh, this didnt exactly go well for her. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. Her last years were eccentric, but as in most of her endeavors, her youthful beauty drove her decisions. Most famously, Robert de Montesquieu collected hundreds of her photographs and wrote a biography of her that he titled La Divine Comtesse. The Countess of Castiglione in collaboration with Pierre-Louis Pierson. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. The countesss response was swift and brutal. He left her in a corner without assigning her a place.". The Italian Virginia Oldoini weds the Comte de Castiglione and is sent in 1856 in Paris to help defend the cause of Italy, in the likes of . If Oldoini counted you among her closest friends, you might get a ridiculous memento from her. Before you start screaming wtf victory rolls??! Cookies and similar technologies are used to improve your experience, to do things like: Without these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. Rumors of her perfect form and awe-inspiring visage flew from Italy through Europe and would ultimately determine the entire course of her life and work. Shes also an academic, with several articles on fashion history published in research journals. She was notoriously obsessive about this aspect of her work, repositioning the camera with persnickety precision when she didnt like what she saw. Well, today we're going to talk about the woman considered the queen of selfies and a true pioneer of photography in general. Running Time 1 hr 25 min. Strangely, it's hard to find out much about the impact of Castiglione's photos during her own lifetime. It might seem ordinary for us today, however it was a grave act of shame for women in the 19th century. Theres no doubt that the French court was initially obsessed with the countess, and she became the It Girl du jour. 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. But unlike our pitiful selfies, Oldoini turned self-obsession into a cottage industryin fact, its what shes famous for today. He spent thirteen years writing a biography, La Divine Comtesse, which appeared in 1913. Contents hide. One choice cringey line? 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. 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!). They'd posthumously be described by critics as more morbid, more disturbed, more deranged than her earlier work. La Comtesse de Castiglione (The eyes) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1863-1866 via ArtNet. Marie Antoinette Syndrome: Overnight Highlights! This scandalous move of hers took the forum by surprise. [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]. Directed and staged by the Countess, herself, and created in collaboration with the studio photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson . Virginia Oldoini was born into a noble family in 1837, in Florence,Tuscany. The reasons for her sudden fall from grace remain a private mystery. While Germany was considering occupying France, Oldoinis old friend Otto von Bismarck called her up personally and set up a secret meeting to ask her advice on the matter. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Imperial Court. Her cousin, Camilo Benso, was a minister in the court of Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia. And that's how she continues to exist: as an image, a face, a set of poses meticulously choreographed and endlessly marveled over. In her biography, she explicitly described herself as The Eternal Father did not know what he was creating the day he sent her into the world.. She was born in 1837 to an aristocratic family in La . Some say she kept the corpus for herself, while others claim she offered albums to others as a sign of her favor or to control her public image and reputation. P. Petra von Straks. The Oldoini cousins couldnt have picked a better mark than Napoleon III. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleons wife. She was a pioneer of a new artistic medium who also happened to be an emperor's open-secret fuck buddy. 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. Sometime during her separation proceedings, the Countess of Castigliones estranged husband decided to ramp up the bitterness and do something truly horrific. A few of her admirers were fixated upon her beauty and art. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Captcha failed to load. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. Critics have noted how morbid her late period images are, with the countess doing things like placing herself inside a coffin and posing with the body of her late terrier pup. The photograph, titled "Portrait in a Black Dress," is commonly assumed to be the first Pierson took of . 1:53. Pinterest. 1. Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (22 March 1837 - 28 November 1899), better known as La Castiglione, was born to an aristocratic family from La Spezia.She was a 19th-century Italian aristocrat who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. The daughter of Tuscan nobles, her birth name wasdeep breath for thisVirginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini. We want our readers to trust us. By the 1890s, she had become round, bald, and . Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. 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. After her death, he collected 433 of her photographs, all of which entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Visualizza altre idee su virginia, foto, croce di diamanti. 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 studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. Whichever interpretation you prefer, it's probably a fitting one. 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. Very sad. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. Her photographs werent just about the clothes she was wearing but also about who was wearing them, putting Oldoini up with the likes of Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell. On one occasion, she boldly appeared at a ball on the emperor's arm, dressed as the Queen of Heartsprompting the empress to angrily quip, "The heart is a bit low, Madame.". ( Odd Feed). 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. 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. But it turns out that Oldoini really shone when her back was up against the wall. 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. Suddenly, her regime of funereal black rooms, veils, and never leaving the house makes tragic sense. HardtIllustrations. Some of the images are sumptuous and witty. "Fatal Opal, Curse of Spain's Court". Unfortunately, acquiring so many exceptional dresses, capes, and headpieces required lavish spending. 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. Granted Castiglione was obsessed by her own beauty but so was everybody around her. September 14, 2020. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Theres an unfortunately LONG TIME spent in this questionably costumed/haired period: 1. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. 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. Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. Nevertheless, her allure and artistry came with a baggage, known to only a few. Thanks! She titled the photo La Venegance, just to make her message extra clear. Commissioned by the countess herself and created under her supervision, the images more . 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. 7 The First Model. There is a French documentary currently on Amazon Prime, The Courtesans, that focuses on the rivalries of Virginia Oldoini, La Paiva Esther Lachmann, La Belle Agustina del Carmen Otero Iglesias, and Liane de Pougy. La Contessa descended into madness, stemming from her undying self-obsession and Narcissism. Not only was her husband a noble, but her own heritage was also nothing to slouch at. Daphne Guinness, eat your heart out. She died on November 28, 1899, at the age of sixty-two, and was buried at the Pre Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Hence she was popularly known by her nickname Nicchia, meaning niche in Italian, a name quite fitting for an ornamental woman. She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. 1-set-2021 - Esplora la bacheca "La CONTESSA DI CASTIGLIONE." di Giancarlo Assenti su Pinterest. Although infidelity is certainly close to #1 on the list of marital sins, the Countess of Castiglione didnt stop there. In 1871, things werent looking good for the Countess of Castiglione. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. She had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined face, and a legendary figure. Hand-tinted photographs were regarded as both a luxury and a novelty. 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 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 . . Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. Filmmakers. She actively spurned the company of other women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was at balls. (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 . She was noted for her fair complexion, delicate oval face, long blonde hair, and eyes that changed color from blue-violet to green. 3 A Scurvy Expedition. The film starts with the countess in her prime, at the opera, where everyone is dying over how gorgeous she is with good reason: Shes all stunning white with a giant hoop, and nobody can take their eyes off her. But as she aged she grew more reclusive, living in a house without mirrors. They made her out to be some sort of gigantic narcissist who only posed for photographs. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. . Her level of control over these projects cannot be. 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 . At the age of 17, Virginia married Francesco Verazis. Find Virginia Oldoini, Countess Of Castiglione stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. La Dame de Coeurs, 1861-63. Do you ever watch movies in languages you cant understand? The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. Her room was painted black, windows sealed and mirrors removed from every nook and cranny. | 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. 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. Ignored by her father, she was educated by her grandfather Ranieri Lamporecchi. He tried to claim custody of their only son Giorgio, using his wifes lavish lifestyle as proof of her bad mothering. Others are disquieting. The Countess of Castiglione is one of the most bewildering woman known to history. 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. Once there, she looked the courtesan up and down before sniffing, The heart is a little low, madam. 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. This sartorial talent even once allowed her to make a legendary statement. I just gagged, and not in the good way. 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. In 1879, little Giorgio passed from smallpox, predeceasing his utterly bereft mother by a cruel 20 years. In 1857, she separated from her husband, whom she had openly cheated on and bankrupted. Oldoini doted on the boy as only a rich mommy can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him. Does Fragonards painting have the same subtext? These actions protected her from watching her own beauty decay, and allowed her admirers to only remember the beauty she was in her youth. Yeah, theres a reason why it became infamous. Camillo encouraged seduction in no uncertain terms when he told her to succeed using any means necessary. In the summer of 2014, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling. From 1856 to 1895, she had more than 400 photographs of herself . Four months of attention-grabbing stunts were required for her to become Napoleons mistress. The Countess returned to Italy in 1857 when her affair with Napoleon III was over. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. WWE Survivor Series 2006 | movie | 2006 | Official Clip . There are masks and silk robes and, in one photograph, just a bedspread draped suggestively. Tags1860sCountess of CastiglioneEmpress EugenieGino Sensanigreat hairinspired by a true storyItalyNapoleon IIIshuddup I love biopics. She has bracelets on each wrist and hair partially pinned up, one ringlet trailing down her neck. The Countess is also depicted in Alexander Chee's novel The Queen of the Night. View Etsys Privacy Policy. Victoria And Albert Museum. View contact information for cast and crew. In the end, the countess was true to herself, making it clear "I am not here for you. She had been secretly entrusted with a significant mission: to persuade Emperor Napoleon III into agreeing on the unification of Italy. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Duranti is FAR TOO OLD to pull it off. [2], In 18561857, she entered the social circle of European royalty. That interaction revealed a wit that Napoleon III appreciated, but his attention was only fully captured when she appeared at a masked ball as a Decadent Roman Woman. . Believe it or not, the countess never had a large-scale public exhibition of her photos. "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. Looking for countess castiglione online in India? Today. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. She spent a large part of her personal fortune and even went into debt to execute this project. 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. 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." 4,500. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. That same year, she returned to France and settled in Passy. James Hyman Gallery is delighted to return to Photo London and to present the very first London exhibition of one of the greatest figures in the history of photography, the Countess of Castiglione. 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. See, Camillo was in the middle of trying to convince the French Emperor Napoleon III to help unify Italy, and he knew his cousin Virginia had a, uh, hypnotizing power over men. 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. Instead, she preferred to stand in the middle of the room and let men fawn over her as if she were a shrine. Some sort of gigantic narcissist who only posed for photographs in Paris no love lost for Eugenie... Inbox daily wwe Survivor Series 2006 | movie | 2006 | Official.. She was notoriously obsessive about this aspect of her that he titled Divine! In 18561857, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling it turns out that really... Women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was known! 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