Most tragically, this was not to be. Oldoini did not cope well with aging, and her insecurities soon took on deranged proportions. A pioneering model and a bounty of Narcissism , she took self love to a completely different tangent. The reasons for her sudden fall from grace remain a private mystery. 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. Copyright Odd Feed 2023. 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. She was partly responsible for Italian unification due to the influence she had upon the Emperor. All eyes were on her whenever she entered a room, and her costumes were the talk of the court. 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. Recent evidence suggests that it may have belonged to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. In her own writings, she refers to herself in the third person. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. By 1860, their affair had soured, and the countess had completely lost favor at court. The use of most of her photos is unclear. Not even she was entitled to look at the waning beauty of the Countess of Castiglione. She was the prophetess of self-portraits, anticipating Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman and . Unfortunately, acquiring so many exceptional dresses, capes, and headpieces required lavish spending. Her parents were the Marquis of Filippo Oldoini and the Marquise of Isabella Lamporecchi, who belonged to the Tuscan nobility. It might seem ordinary for us today, however it was a grave act of shame for women in the 19th century. Emperor Napoleon didnt seem to mind that the countess came to his court as a married woman, and Castigliones mission went very well indeed. Or something else entirely? By the 1890s, she had become round, bald, and . He left for Italy, leaving his Countess engaging in her newly found hobby in France. Linocut La Castiglione in the mirror. If you want to see more images of La Castiglione you should check it out. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. Most of the photographs depict the Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Queen of Hearts dress. The Countess of Castiglione began life as Virginia Oldoini, a celebrated beauty and a member of the minor nobility in Florence, Tuscany. ), Yes, its found it. But it only got worse. . She had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined face, and a legendary figure. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. The photographs,commissioned by the countess and created under her supervision,were both self-advertisement and self-expression as . 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 . Similar Movies. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. Okay this dressing gown just screams 1940s. 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. Surprising almost no one, Oldoini wasnt afraid to be very risqu in her photographsbut her most scandalous photos were also her most bizarre. He asked the countess to go to France and convince Napoleon to join their side. In fact, you may not need to picture it; you may have already seen the image. Genealogy profile for Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collectionsthey may also appear in recommendations and other places. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. At the time of her death, she was in the process of planning a comeback exhibition, a retrospective titled "The Most Beautiful Woman of the Century. During her relationship with the French emperor, she met Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Otto von Bismarck and Adolphe Thiers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpDoq0k649w. As it was prevalent in ancient times, the Count was 12 years older than his wife, deeming their marriage inharmonious. "Fatal Opal, Curse of Spain's Court". Some scholars argue that the Countess of Castiglione wasnt just the first model of our timeshe was also the first supermodel too. If so, her final hours were gruesome: she was eaten by a swarm of giant coconut crabs. She paired with the imperial court photographers Mayer & Pierson from 1856 to 1895, utilizing the technology of painted photographs to craft multiple, sometimes conflicting, portraits of her nature. George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in . Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? After teaming up with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Oldoini amassed over 700 19th-century selfies. Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. Learn more. Role. Ive had a thing for the real-life Virginia Oldoini, The Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899) for a loooong time now. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. 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. I saw that exhibition at the Met! When he tried to gain full custody over their only son Giorgio not so subtly indicating her bitterness and disgust towards her ex-husband. This is the famous "Queen of Hearts" colorized photo of the Countess of Castiglione by Pierson. Artifice? Suddenly, her regime of funereal black rooms, veils, and never leaving the house makes tragic sense. 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. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. 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. Her playful photoshoots anticipated the Surrealist aesthetic that would dominate the art scene after she passed In one meta photo, she peers at the viewer through a cameradrawing attention to the ways shes both looking at you while youre looking at her. It was a short-lived affair, lasting less than a year. At the peak of her Narcissism, she voluntarily modelled and took controversial pictures of herself. The Countess of Castiglione is sometimes called The Queen of Surrealism. Which makes the countess infamous act of revenge all the more savage. Trying not to hurl as Napoleon III cheeses on her. I am of a different essence.". She is clothed in incredible finery, and yet with the frame over her eye she is forcing you to look at her. Although the still-teenaged Oldoini jumped at the chance to go to Paris and get away from her hum-drum life, there was one big wrench in her plans. Later, I came across her fancy dress photos via their exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was hooked and years later, I played her at the San Francisco Dickens Fair. 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. View Etsys Privacy Policy. The Countess was known for her beauty and her flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the imperial court. Her cousin Camillo Benso was even a minister for the King of Sardinia. Visualizza altre idee su virginia, foto, croce di diamanti. Beloved of Napoleon III<br><br>Virginia Oldoini was born on March 22, 1837 in Florence. On an early trip to Paris, she and her husband met with Camillo, Count of Cavour. (Her cousin, the minister Camillo Cavour, reportedly told her to "succeed by any means you wishbut succeed!") Were always looking for your input! Daphne Guinness, eat your heart out. 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. 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. Before you go accusing Oldoini of being a good-for-nothing influencer, consider this: She was deeply involved in the production of her selfie photos, essentially acting as her own art director. One day, Napoleon was hosting yet another lavish ball, and the countess took the opportunity to flex her power. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. 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. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Flavio Calzavara. Read more: Maria Rasputin: The Fascinating Life of the Mad Monks Daughter. Um. Feb 4, 2014 - Explore Alessandra Casiraghi's board "Virginia Oldoini", followed by 216 people on Pinterest. [Profile with Chignon, Large] (Countess Virginia Oldoini Verasis di Castiglione [18351899]) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 186163, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1855. One choice cringey line? Select from premium Countess Of Castiglione of the highest quality. The count was 12 years older than the girl, and not much of a looker. Here is the version with Yvonne De Carlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpDoq0k649w. Victorian. In 1857, she separated from her husband, whom she had openly cheated on and bankrupted. 20 Jan 2023 02:54:18 The poet and dandy Robert de Montesquiou was obsessed with her even when she was alive, and his ardor only grew. Mariah Carey could never. She sought to emulate her life, both as she lived it and as she imagined it. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. In hindsight, its not a very good idea to send a teenager into enemy territory with instructions to sleep her way to the top. But unlike our pitiful selfies, Oldoini turned self-obsession into a cottage industryin fact, its what shes famous for today. "Her project, undermined by her shameless self-absorption, could not therefore be regarded as that of a true artist. He later scrawled furiously: Our separation is irrevocable. ; Tommaso Antongini, "Nathalie Lger: Exposition review mysteries, rumours and facts", Metropolitan Museum of Art: "La Divine Comtesse", Short article in Artnet about the Countess de Castiglione, Review of "La Divine Comtesse": Photographs of the Countess de Castiglione, Five Countess de Castiglione photos can be found here, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virginia_Oldoini,_Countess_of_Castiglione&oldid=1132953745, Photographic artist and supposed secret agent, Giorgio Verasis di Castiglione (18551879), Abigail Solomon-Godeau, "The Legs of the Countess," in, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 13:44. Though the credit goes to Otto von Bismarck for his bravery, Virginia Oldioni, The Countess of Castiglione, though not following a diplomatic route, was a great influence in the Unification of Italy. 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. 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. In fact, he specifically told the countess to succeed by whatever means you wishbut succeed. So this review is basically going to focus on the visuals! ARCHIMEDES The Greatest Mathematician and Inventor, Habu Sake Facts & Information You Should Know About, How do Lobsters Communicate? Designer Fruit Alchemy. Thanks! All Rights Reserved. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Prim, proper, and dutiful Eugenie had to suffer in contempt when she got the full view of the Countess of Castigliones costumeand I do mean the full view. Self-knowledge? 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. While some may call her self-involved, others may say that she knew her beauty, and wanted to make the most of it. While she was lauded as Venus descended from Olympus, she was exceptionally self-absorbed. In case its not clear yet, the Countess of Castiglione wasnt a girls girl. September 14, 2020. 2 Early marriage. 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. Countess of Castiglione. (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 . This scandalous move of hers took the forum by surprise. She allegedly had an illicit love affair with a naval officer, right before the day of her marriage to the Count, tagging herself with an anarchist title. Four years later, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, conceivably in part due to the influence that the Countess had exerted on Napoleon III. The grandeur of each of her outfits came with an exorbitant price, making her not so dear husband bankrupt during the two years of their marriage. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. She may have been persuasive because Paris was spared Prussian occupation.[5]. Another wrote that, at gatherings, she would "allow people to her admire her as if she were a shrine She almost never spoke to women. Moreover, these rudimentary special effects could smooth, enhance, and flatter their subjects, transforming and elevating them. The Countess of Castiglione in collaboration with Pierre-Louis Pierson. 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. 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 . (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 From her bedroom exploits to her tragic downfall, the Countess of Castiglione is one historical figure worth knowing. With her notorious ways, she succeeded in enticing king Napoleon III to help unify Italy, which was achieved in 1861. His devotion led him to confide in his cousin. The Contessa's Secret: Directed by Georges Combret. ", For More Stories Like This, Sign Up for Our Newsletter. That photo of her on the swing looks like they were attempting a tableau of Fragonards 1767 painting, The Swing, or The Happy Accident. Right before her arranged marriage to the older count, Oldoini sowed her wild oats, and then some. We know that the studio was luxurious; engravings show its salons, antechambers, vast porticos, enormous bay windows bathing the galleries with light. She Was Born Into Privilege. The photo was entitled La Vengeance. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleon's wife. Born Virginie Oldoini in 1837, this Italian worman coming from Tuscan nobility married Franois Verasis, Count of Castiglione, in 1854. The swing pic may refer to this painting by Fragonard? Before 1861, 55 portraits were made, of which 34 were by Pierson. . She often hand painted over her photographs and directed her shots, to put forward her best angle, much like a supermodel. According to reports from the time, they were constantly changing from green to a brilliant blue-violet. Do you ever watch movies in languages you cant understand? 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. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Great! In other words: Bed that boy, and fast. What actually happened was even more disastrous. Read more: Marie Antoinette Syndrome: Overnight Highlights! 11 - 15 May 2022. 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). People called her beauty a miracle and named her as la divinia contessa. She was a pioneer of a new artistic medium who also happened to be an emperor's open-secret fuck buddy. Finally we catch back up to the countess in her OH MY GOD THAT HAIR IS SO FABULOUS period: Theres a bunch of scenes of her in 18th century fancy dress where shes clearly deciding whether she can stomach taking one for the team with Napoleon III: They go with a very Madame du Barry look., Which isnt spot on, but isnt totally unlike her 18th century-inspired fancy dress | Mathilde (Countess of Castiglione) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1860s,Metropolitan Museum of Art. Italian Virgiana Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, holding an oval picture frame up to her eye,. Guess what? In her later years the Countess removed all mirrors from her apartment, refusing to watch her beauty decay. Shapes, color and value, eye-catching visual impact on art. She actively spurned the company of other women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was at balls. Translation: Your cleavage is showing, betch. The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson (c. 1863-66). You might call her the Godmother of the staged Surrealist selfie. Shes also an academic, with several articles on fashion history published in research journals. She was an important figure to the history of photography during the 19th century. Genealogy for Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (1837 - 1899) family tree on Geni, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography. Courtiers were delighted with her flamboyant entrances to parties, and her costumes were always impeccable. The talk of the Countess of Castiglione wasnt a girls girl, which was achieved 1861! 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