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. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. . My mom never told me how her best friend died. On an early trip to Paris, she and her husband met with Camillo, Count of Cavour. Sadly, as well see, she might have had a darker reason for this behavior. All rights reserved. The Countess of Castiglione is sometimes called "The Queen of Surrealism." 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 to the ways she's both looking at you while you're looking at her. She not only entered the ballroom with the emperor on her arm, she also did it while wearing a Queen of Hearts costume. Virginia Oldoini was born into a noble family in 1837, in Florence,Tuscany. Role. She often hand painted over her photographs and directed her shots, to put forward her best angle, much like a supermodel. 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. From 1856 to 1895, she sat for hundreds of photo-shoots. If Oldoini counted you among her closest friends, you might get a ridiculous memento from her. She Was Born Into Privilege. You know youve made it when someone compares you to a literal goddess. During her relationship with the French emperor, she met Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Otto von Bismarck and Adolphe Thiers. Although the union gave Virginia the name we know her by today, it didnt give her a whole lot else. Italian Virginia Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, here photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson with gouache. 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. (Looking back, that may possibly be why as a pre-teen I enjoyed the swings in the playground so much; I would have swung for hours if there hadnt always been someone else who wanted a go on them. She has bracelets on each wrist and hair partially pinned up, one ringlet trailing down her neck. 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. Sep 10, 2013 - The 19th-century Italian aristocrat, better known as as La Castiglione, was an iconic model, muse, mistress, narcissist, and queen of drama. The Countess' story begins in the mid-19th century, when she was married off to an Italian count at age 17. This major solo exhibition includes over fifty rare portraits of the Countess from the 1850s to the 1890s. Sign up for our newsletter. Her narcissism in regard to her own photographic image was a precursor to the self-portraits we've seen throughout the 20th century. 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. But it only got worse. 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 . Aside from taking up with Napoleon III in full view of her husband Francesco, the countess also literally bankrupted the man with her expensive tastes. There was one, and just exactly one, bright spot in Virginias marriage to her fuddy-duddy count: Their son together, Giorgio. Shes also an academic, with several articles on fashion history published in research journals. Eugenie reportedly found a way to waltz over to the barely-dressed countess. Surprising almost no one, Oldoini wasnt afraid to be very risqu in her photographsbut her most scandalous photos were also her most bizarre. understated; she did everything from choosing the camera angle to painting the photographs herself. Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. [2], In 18561857, she entered the social circle of European royalty. Artist Pierre-Louis Pierson. The altered image further suggests the client's intervention.. Ritrosetta 261287 . According to reports from the time, they were constantly changing from green to a brilliant blue-violet. This was in the early 2000s, so it was only recently that I looked it up on Wikipedia, and found my inference was actually pretty accurate given I had no idea what anyone was saying. It wasnt boredom, but indiscretion which provoked Napoleon to discard her. Genealogy profile for Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. King Napoleon III did not have a clean history when it came to being loyal to his wife. On one famous evening, Napoleon III was leaving as she was making her grand entrance, You are too late, he said. She also produced many photographs of herself depicting famous women from the Bible, history, and mythology. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. . . Victoria And Albert Museum. She was, in a word, disgustingly vain. This scandalous move of hers took the forum by surprise. 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. She went back in 1861 and stayed for goodgetting into a lot more trouble in the meantime. That photo of her on the swing looks like they were attempting a tableau of Fragonards 1767 painting, The Swing, or The Happy Accident. Well, today we're going to talk about the woman considered the queen of selfies and a true pioneer of photography in general. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. She goes home and has some strained conversations with a man who I presume to be her husband. Although infidelity is certainly close to #1 on the list of marital sins, the Countess of Castiglione didnt stop there. Theres an unfortunately LONG TIME spent in this questionably costumed/haired period: 1. Sometime during her separation proceedings, the Countess of Castigliones estranged husband decided to ramp up the bitterness and do something truly horrific. I just gagged, and not in the good way. Were always looking for your input! Soldier Boy Confronts Crimson Countess The Boys Clip Prime Video. Get your fix of fascinating trivia in our 5-minute newsletter. See more ideas about countess, vintage photos, vintage photography. 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. Italian Virgiana Oldoini , countess of Castiglione , she was the spy of french emperor NapoleonIII, holding an oval picture frame up to her eye,. In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer and Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. One day, Napoleon was hosting yet another lavish ball, and the countess took the opportunity to flex her power. 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. Her memoirs reveal some disturbing and embarrassing details. Within her abode, the blinds were always drawn against the sunlight, and its rumored that she only left her home at night. He commented that La Castiglione was a dull doll, implying that what she had in looks, she lacked in personality. Her level of control over these projects cannot be. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. But the alternative in which the lover (or he or politics) is placed will lead her to choose, albeit reluctantly, her patriotic task.. The opulence of these ladies is over the top. Not surprising enough, the Countess took questionable pictures of herself, baring her legs and feet to the camera. Now, the problem is the film is in Italian without any English subtitles, and my knowledge of Italian is limited to ordering food and booking hotel rooms. Original Price 17.51 Hence she was popularly known by her nickname Nicchia, meaning niche in Italian, a name quite fitting for an ornamental woman. With Yvonne De Carlo, Georges Marchal, Paul Meurisse, Rossano Brazzi. She wished to set up an exhibit of her photographs at the Exposition Universelle (1900), though this did not happen. Her cousin, Camilo Benso, was a minister in the court of Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia. While she was lauded as Venus descended from Olympus, she was exceptionally self-absorbed. It was called "Nicchia". 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. Her adult life began when her beauty and noble blood allowed her to become the Countess da Castiglione through marriage to Francesco Verasis. One of her most infamous outfits was a "Queen of Hearts" costume. 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?? 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. dressed in a gorgeous gown and holding a knife in her hand, titled "La Venegance . Kendra has been a fixture in the online costuming world since the late 1990s. The Countess of Castiglione in collaboration with Pierre-Louis Pierson. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Along with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson, Virginia managed to take around 700 photographs of herself. 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. She wasnt cheap, either. Log in. From 1856 to 1895, the Countess di Castiglionea great beauty and shameless narcissistcollaborated with photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson on more than 400 self-portraits. When he tried to gain full custody over their only son Giorgio not so subtly indicating her bitterness and disgust towards her ex-husband. His devotion led him to confide in his cousin. (20% off), Sale Price 4.68 1 Born into Novelty. Or something else entirely? Um. The Countess of Castiglione is one of the most bewildering woman known to history. The studio specialized in hand-painted photography, an explosively popular technique. She was an important figure to the history of photography during the 19th century. WWE Survivor Series 2006 | movie | 2006 | Official Clip . Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. Without a doubt, the Countess had gained much popularity among men of cadre in France. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. "Fatal Opal, Curse of Spain's Court". 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. Robert de Montesquiou, a French poet, was once such Romeo so obsessed with his Juliet, that he collected 400 of her photographs. The Italian aristocrats legendary beauty and photographic misadventures turned her into the worlds first model, but thats not what made her infamous. It might seem ordinary for us today, however it was a grave act of shame for women in the 19th century. She only ventured out of her gloomy residence at night-time, covering herself from head to toe in a black gown, and a veil over her face, ashamed of anyone getting a glimpse of her destitute state. Once she even used this photographic art to communicate with others. Hand-tinted photographs were regarded as both a luxury and a novelty. Behind her sits a child, his face blurred and ghostly mid-motion. Nevertheless, her allure and artistry came with a baggage, known to only a few. Instead, she preferred to stand in the middle of the room and let men fawn over her as if she were a shrine. Strangely, it's hard to find out much about the impact of Castiglione's photos during her own lifetime. That wasp-waisted dress is the plaidest thing I have ever seen! Touch device users can . [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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? All rights reserved. La Comtesse de Castiglione (The eyes) by Pierre-Louis Pierson, 1863-1866 via ArtNet. Countess of Castiglione Facts. 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. She is completing her PhD in Toronto, Canada. La comtesse de Castiglione - Passy, 1861-1867. I was able to vaguely follow what was going on through the over-the-top acting and flashbacks. That same year, she returned to France and settled in Passy. 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 . Although their relationship was technically collaborative, the Countess held all the cards: meticulously dictating the costumes, the sets, the scenes, and the ways in which images should be painted and embellished afterwards (some were given to the artist Aquilin Schad to overlay with gouache, while others she scribbled on herself). It's oval-shaped, holding a partial reflection of her faceeyes, nose, the top of her lips. 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. 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. Right before her arranged marriage to the older count, Oldoini sowed her wild oats, and then some. HardtIllustrations. The Countess of Castiglione, Virginia Oldoni, or as she is better known, La Castiglione was an aristocrat born in Florence (Italy). La Contessa descended into madness, stemming from her undying self-obsession and Narcissism. But the most intriguing aspect of the image is one of its smallest components: the small hand-mirror this woman wields. Library. Creepily enough, her parents were totally fine with thisin fact, they took advantage of it in the worst way possible. The Countess was a rebel, she did not conform to the traditional roles of a woman and a wife, as it was expected of her and did what she pleased. She found her niche in Mayer-Pierson photographic studio on Boulevard de Capucine. Sign up for our newsletter. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. 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