But it turns out that Oldoini really shone when her back was up against the wall. In the summer of 2014, she published a book on 18th-century wig and hair styling. . Price on request. While there, she was granted a pension for her diplomatic accomplishments. ), Yes, its found it. James Hyman Gallery. Read more: Marie Antoinette Syndrome: Overnight Highlights! She revealed miles of porcelain legs and decorated her exposed toes with golden rings. It holds just the right amount of intrigue with its arrangement of material and mirrors, as well as its ambiguous message: Vanity? All rights reserved. dressed in a gorgeous gown and holding a knife in her hand, titled "La Venegance . The Divine Countess faced a not so divine death in 1899. Four months of attention-grabbing stunts were required for her to become Napoleons mistress. Touch device users can . Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Whenever she wasnt perfectly satisfied with a photograph, shed use hand-painting to soften her unflattering angles and put herself in the best light. She returned to Italy in 1857, appalled by her slowly wrinkling face, discolouration of her skin and losing the twinkle in her eye, which caught her lovers in a trance. Shop for the best countess castiglione from our collection of exclusive, customized & handmade products. 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. skeleton on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro. The studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. Not surprising enough, the Countess took questionable pictures of herself, baring her legs and feet to the camera. Four years later, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, conceivably in part due to the influence that the Countess had exerted on Napoleon III. Playfulness? Learn more. 1. Imperial Court. Edwardian Era. Copyright 2007-2020 Frock Flicks, Trystan L. Bass, Kendra Van Cleave, & Sarah Lorraine Goodman. Between her busy schedule romancing Napoleon, the countess also found time for another juicy hobby: She loved taking vain photos. 1860. 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. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. 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. Gaining the attention of Napoleon III proved more difficult than expected. She replied in kind, No, Sire. 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! Portrait Photography. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. In fact, you may not need to picture it; you may have already seen the image. 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. 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. She lived in an apartment in the Place Vendme where she painted the rooms entirely in black and banned mirrors. Most tragically, this was not to be. Most of the photographs depict the Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Queen of Hearts dress. Um. 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. Knowing that Napoleon III was easy to seduce, he begged the Countess of Castiglione to plead the case for Italian unification to the emperor. Kendra has been a fixture in the online costuming world since the late 1990s. "The Countess, who was perceived as a disturbing character whose motives were unclear, was understood to have taken up photography merely to satisfy her narcissism," he argues. She often arrived near the end of public events, desiring to be known more than she desired to socialize. The two women were exact opposites in many ways: Oldoini was liberal and fun-loving, while Eugenie was serious and devoted to her country. Soon enough, it all came crashing down. Designer Fruit Alchemy. [4] She was described as having long, wavy blonde hair, a fair complexion, a delicate oval face, and eyes that constantly changed colour from green to an extraordinary blue-violet. The swing pic may refer to this painting by Fragonard? La comtesse de Castiglione - Passy, 1861-1867. Go get em, girl. She Was Born Into Privilege. Thanks! She would not live to see the Exposition where she planned to debut her photos. Her website, Dmod Couture, is one of the most well-known online resources for historical costumers. He spent thirteen years writing a biography, La Divine Comtesse, which appeared in 1913. So, I basically got about 1% of the dialogue, and very little of the story, so it was basically like watching a beautiful silent film. In 1879, little Giorgio passed from smallpox, predeceasing his utterly bereft mother by a cruel 20 years. 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). He commented that La Castiglione was a dull doll, implying that what she had in looks, she lacked in personality. She was notoriously obsessive about this aspect of her work, repositioning the camera with persnickety precision when she didnt like what she saw. Even after her tenure as a royal mistress, the countess played an important role in European politics. She had long, wavy blonde hair, a refined face, and a legendary figure. In 1855, she had a brief affair with King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, who nicknamed her "Nini". 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. She had been secretly entrusted with a significant mission: to persuade Emperor Napoleon III into agreeing on the unification of Italy. It was also published on its own in 1973. He later scrawled furiously: Our separation is irrevocable. Lets just say that the convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books, oh heck no. 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. Shes also an academic, with several articles on fashion history published in research journals. Or something else entirely? 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?? Virginia Oldoini was born into a noble family in 1837, in Florence,Tuscany. On March 22, 1837, the Countess was born into her very own gilded, velvet world. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. After her death, he collected 433 of her photographs, all of which entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As one of her contemporaries put it more sharply, After a few momentsshe began to get on your nerves. In case its not clear yet, the Countess of Castiglione wasnt a girls girl. All rights reserved. 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. By Kendra on November 7, 2019 in Nineteenth Century. When the Countess bragged and showed off the many gifts the emperor gave her, these lapses in her discretion prompted the dissolution of their relationship. Browse 337 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Browse 343 countess of castiglione stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. This sartorial talent even once allowed her to make a legendary statement. Oh, but it wasnt over yet. 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. Oldoini doted on the boy as only a rich mommy can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him. 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 . It's hard not to admire the sheer, inventive scope of the imagery, as well as the clothes: all those veils, capes, headpieces, and ornate off-the-shoulder gowns. The countesss meaning wasnt lost on Empress Eugenie, and the straight-laced woman ended up getting in a savage comeback. She was part of the demi-monde, women on the edge of society supported by wealthy lovers. She ended her life as a recluse hiding in darkened apartments. The countess infamously snapped pictures that exposed her bare feet and legs. 4 A Vile Proposition. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Nice finds, Kendra. 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. Camilo was abreast of the mesmerising effect Virginia had on men and hence he pleaded with the Countess to join hands with him. Must find out. 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. He tried to claim custody of their only son Giorgio, using his wifes lavish lifestyle as proof of her bad mothering. Hence she was popularly known by her nickname Nicchia, meaning niche in Italian, a name quite fitting for an ornamental woman. 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. In her later years, the Countess of Castiglione barely left her house, considering it the height of mortification to show her slightly wrinkled face to the masses. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 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. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleons wife. La Dame de Coeurs, 1861-63. September 14, 2020. The fashion choice let Eugenie know that even if she wasnt Empress, the countess still reigned over Napoleons heart. Daphne Guinness, eat your heart out. By the 1890s, she had become round, bald, and . See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. Hand-painted photographs were a luxurious novelty at the time, so naturally Oldoini made the best use of them she could. 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. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. The Countess of Castiglione had no love lost for Empress Eugenie, Napoleon's wife. She achieved notoriety by becoming Napoleon III's mistress, a scandal that led her husband to demand marital separation. 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 . Artifice? We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Toward the end of her life, following a hiatus of some twenty-five years, the Countess da Castiglione resumed her sessions with Pierson. The Countess' story begins in the mid-19th century, when she was married off to an Italian count at age 17. 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. ", Writing about herself in third person, the Countess said, "The Eternal Father did not know what he was creating the day he sent her into the world; he modeled and modeled, and when he was finished he looked at his wondrous work and was overwhelmed. He asked the countess to go to France and convince Napoleon to join their side. Victoria And Albert Museum. 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. Find Virginia Oldoini, Countess Of Castiglione stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. One choice cringey line? The Countess of Castiglione was popular in the court of Emperor Napoleon III. It's the sort of thing that pops up regularly all over the internet, unmoored from context or time period. The Countess Castiglione was a woman of multiple personalities -- Cleopatra crossed with Blanche Dubois. Virginia Oldoiniknown better to history as the Countess of Castiglionewas mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Nevertheless, her allure and artistry came with a baggage, known to only a few. 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 has bracelets on each wrist and hair partially pinned up, one ringlet trailing down her neck. Theres no doubt that the French court was initially obsessed with the countess, and she became the It Girl du jour. 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 . In this fragment of a reflection, her gaze is steady, staring right down the camera lens. She actively spurned the company of other women, often refusing to even talk to them while she was at balls. 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. Others claim that they were largely a private collectionrarely circulated, and never used to commercial ends. 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. Browse 131,614 countess of chichester stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. One day, Napoleon was hosting yet another lavish ball, and the countess took the opportunity to flex her power. James Hyman Gallery presented recently the very first London exhibition of one of the greatest figures in the history of photography, the Countess of Castiglione.. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Which makes the countess infamous act of revenge all the more savage. In hindsight, its not a very good idea to send a teenager into enemy territory with instructions to sleep her way to the top. She was . And then it got worse, Despite her self-exile later in life, the Countess of Castiglione still found time to do the occasional photoshoot.but the results were chilling. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Theres just NOTHING 19th century about this look, and 2. IMDbPro See more details at IMDbPro. In 1871, things werent looking good for the Countess of Castiglione. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. She often hand painted over her photographs and directed her shots, to put forward her best angle, much like a supermodel. Shrouded from her husband, the Countess had undertaken an undisclosable mission proposed to her by Camilo. As her name implies, Oldoinis parents had big expectations for the little girlexpectations that would soon ruin her entire life. Scherzo di Follia by Pierre-Louis Pierson, Vintage European Art Print, Countess of Castiglione Photo, PRINTABLE Wall Art, Digital Download. Thus, the Countess Castiglione was sent to Napoleon with instructions to obtain a Franco-Italian alliance, stipulating that if Austria made war, France would join with Italy in combat. , Napoleons wife, he collected 433 of her work, repositioning the camera with precision... Countess in theatrical outfits, such as the Countess ' story begins the! Own frustrated hopes and dreams into him hand-painting to soften her unflattering angles and put herself in the court Emperor. 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Even if she wasnt Empress, the Countess played an important role in European politics Comtesse, which appeared 1913! Editorial news pictures from Getty images known to only a rich mommy can, all! Can, pouring all her own frustrated hopes and dreams into him and feet the! Secrets, delivered to your inbox daily III into agreeing on the edge of society supported by lovers! Access the best light scrawled furiously: our separation is irrevocable following a hiatus of some twenty-five years, Countess. Convincing Camillo had in mind wasnt the kind that involves long debates and dusty books oh... Painted over her photographs, all of which entered the collection of the photographs depict Countess...