Not surprising enough, the Countess took questionable pictures of herself, baring her legs and feet to the camera. Despite her prickly nature, the Countess had rabid fans long after she passed. She also recreated defining moments of her life, mythologizing her own story by documenting herself in dresses that had proved themselves especially admired or notorious, chief among them being her Queen of Hearts costume. Chinese Woman and Marquise, 1861-1867. Most famously, Robert de Montesquieu collected hundreds of her photographs and wrote a biography of her that he titled La Divine Comtesse. 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. Plus, you know, there was the whole other woman thing. Does Fragonards painting have the same subtext? The Countess is also depicted in Alexander Chee's novel The Queen of the Night. The Countess of Castiglione, Virginia Oldoni, or as she is better known, La Castiglione was an aristocrat born in Florence (Italy). Linocut La Castiglione in the mirror. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. 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. That photo of her on the swing looks like they were attempting a tableau of Fragonards 1767 painting, The Swing, or The Happy Accident. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He asked the countess to go to France and convince Napoleon to join their side. We know that the studio was luxurious; engravings show its salons, antechambers, vast porticos, enormous bay windows bathing the galleries with light. Whichever interpretation you prefer, it's probably a fitting one. Her cousin Camillo Benso was even a minister for the King of Sardinia. 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. By that time, the Countess of Castiglione was as well-known for her detailed and decadent outfits as she was for her beauty. But it only got worse. ", In La Divine Comtesse, a book exploring the Countess' social and cultural legacy, curator Pierre Apraxine writes that art critics have long overlooked the Countess' body of work, mistakenly considering it trivial. As her name implies, Oldoinis parents had big expectations for the little girlexpectations that would soon ruin her entire life. 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 . 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. Aaaaand Kendra starts shaking her head very, very sadly. With Yvonne De Carlo, Georges Marchal, Paul Meurisse, Rossano Brazzi. Performance. Tags1860sCountess of CastiglioneEmpress EugenieGino Sensanigreat hairinspired by a true storyItalyNapoleon IIIshuddup I love biopics. 2023 Getty Images. The reasons for her sudden fall from grace remain a private mystery. She was the prophetess of self-portraits, anticipating Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman and . While she was lauded as Venus descended from Olympus, she was exceptionally self-absorbed. The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer and Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. She was, in a word, disgustingly vain. Which makes the countess infamous act of revenge all the more savage. I just gagged, and not in the good way. 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. DISCLAIMER: Frock Flicks claims no credit for images featured on this site unless noted. Some of the images are sumptuous and witty. 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. Must find out. Born Virginie Oldoini in 1837, this Italian worman coming from Tuscan nobility married Franois Verasis, Count of Castiglione, in 1854. 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. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 Her cousin, Camillo, Count of Cavour, was a minister of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia (that included also Piedmont, Val d'Aosta, Liguria and Savoy). A series of photos show leafless trees as massive sculptural . James Hyman Gallery. In creating these photographs, the Countess cemented her place as a divine, unearthly beauty with a unique visual imprint on the royal courts and anyone knowledgeable about photography. The Countess of Castiglione, a ravishing Italian aristocrat living in 19th-century Paris, both captivated and . 7 The First Model. She is clothed in incredible finery, and yet with the frame over her eye she is forcing you to look at her. 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. All thanks to him, the relic could finally be displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where she deserves to be. The Countess of Castiglione is sometimes called The Queen of Surrealism. Read more: Marie Antoinette Syndrome: Overnight Highlights! She was partly responsible for Italian unification due to the influence she had upon the Emperor. By 1860, their affair had soured, and the countess had completely lost favor at court. 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? Thanks! In recent years, the Countess has been dubbed everything from "selfie queen" to "supreme narcissist" to Surrealist pioneer. 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. Most tragically, this was not to be. After teaming up with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Oldoini amassed over 700 19th-century selfies. When Virginia was just 17 years old, her parents wasted no time in marrying her off to Francesco Verasis, the Count of Castiglione. The Countess continued to enjoy her expensive taste in men and self-indulgence until it took an eerie turn. Copyright Odd Feed 2023. Log in. comtesse de Castiglione (1837-1899)' photo de 1895 coloristation d'apres Pierre-Louis Pierson. (689) $5.95. And that wasnt all. (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 . Ignored by her father, she was educated by her grandfather Ranieri Lamporecchi. Toward the end of her life, following a hiatus of some twenty-five years, the Countess da Castiglione resumed her sessions with Pierson. When Oldoini broke up with Napoleon III, she didnt stop entertaining, and she continued to have hot and heavy affairs with a series of important suitors throughout her life. We want our readers to trust us. During her relationship with the French emperor, she met Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Otto von Bismarck and Adolphe Thiers. 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. 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. Quite expected from a Queen. By dying in 1899, she also missed out on the 20th centuryan era where photography would only continue to dominate media and society. The countess infamously snapped pictures that exposed her bare feet and legs. 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. Italian Virginia Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, here photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson with gouache. Nah, you dont wanna do that. The Countess' story begins in the mid-19th century, when she was married off to an Italian count at age 17. (Her cousin, the minister Camillo Cavour, reportedly told her to "succeed by any means you wishbut succeed!") It's the sort of thing that pops up regularly all over the internet, unmoored from context or time period. Most of the photographs depict the Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Queen of Hearts dress. The photo projects continued occasionally. 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. She returned to Italy only briefly after her royal affair fell apart, but she just couldnt stay away from her beloved France. She not only entered the ballroom with the emperor on her arm, she also did it while wearing a Queen of Hearts costume. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. So now Oldoini wasnt just a spy, she was a honeypot. [Profile with Chignon, Large] (Countess Virginia Oldoini Verasis di Castiglione [18351899]) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 186163, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1855. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The meeting takes place precisely at the crucial moment of the countesss intrigues at the French court, and seeing her ancient love rekindles in her the passion never completely dormant. A number of photographs depict her in poses that were risqu for the era notably, images that expose her bare legs and feet. [2], In 18561857, she entered the social circle of European royalty. In 1855, she had a brief affair with King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, who nicknamed her "Nini". At the pinnacle of her self love journey, Virginia sent out her portraits to friends and acquaintances in the form of albums, duly autographed as a sign of her abounding favour towards them (which was obviously unasked for). But photography is the true legacy of La Castigliones life. In 1879, little Giorgio passed from smallpox, predeceasing his utterly bereft mother by a cruel 20 years. 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. It's oval-shaped, holding a partial reflection of her faceeyes, nose, the top of her lips. Posts about La Comtesse de Castiglione written by Embla. Once she even used this photographic art to communicate with others. James Hyman Gallery. 1 Born into Novelty. I dont think narcissist is the right word. Designer Fruit Alchemy. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. The studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. . On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. She lost her charm and beauty and took ghastly and unnatural pictures of herself, posing in a coffin with her dead dog. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! Children. Detail, Louis Pierson's photographic portrait of the Countess of Castiglione, ca. Countess of Castiglione. Hey, you think a face that beautiful comes for free? 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. Sign up for our newsletter. Theres an unfortunately LONG TIME spent in this questionably costumed/haired period: 1. Married in 1854 to Count Francesco Verasis di Castiglione, who was attached to the court of King Victor . Over the next four decades she directed Pierre-Louis Pierson to help her create 700 different photographs in which she re-created the signature moments of her life for the camera. Her ego was so grand that she usually refused to speak to women, regarding them as inferior to her beauty. 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. You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. One day, Napoleon was hosting yet another lavish ball, and the countess took the opportunity to flex her power. Duly, she ignored the usual diplomatic routes and inveigled herself into prime position as the emperor's mistress. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. But in the end, she would only be his mistress for less than a year, limiting her ability to manipulate him. ( Odd Feed). Want to know more interesting facts? The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson (c. 1863-66). The Oldoini cousins couldnt have picked a better mark than Napoleon III. Not only was her husband a noble, but her own heritage was also nothing to slouch at. Fall from grace remain a private mystery NapoleonIII, here photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson legacy La. Our best-in-class digital asset management system messages, Looks like you already have an account written Embla! Was for her detailed and decadent outfits as she was, in a photo by Pierson... Oldoini wasnt just a spy, she also missed out on the 20th centuryan era where photography would continue... Means you wishbut succeed! '' to Italy only briefly after her royal affair fell apart, but her heritage. 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