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Virginia OldoiniItalian courtesan, fashion model
Date of Birth: 23.03.1837
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Countess di Castiglione: The Enigmatic Beauty
- Early Life and Marriage
- The Paris Salon and Napoleon III
- A Muse to Photographers
- Later Years and Decline
- Legacy and Commemoration
- A biography written by Robert de Montesquiou and published in 1913
- Various characters in the works of Gabriele d'Annunzio
Countess di Castiglione: The Enigmatic Beauty
Countess di Castiglione, born Virginia Oldoini, was an Italian noblewoman, courtesan, and photographer's muse who left an enduring legacy in the annals of history.
Early Life and Marriage
Born into a wealthy and influential family in Florence, Virginia Oldoini married Count Francesco di Castiglione at the age of 16. The couple had a son, Giorgio, in 1855.
The Paris Salon and Napoleon III
In the same year as her son's birth, Virginia moved to Paris, where she quickly became a sensation in social circles. Her exceptional beauty and charm attracted the attention of Emperor Napoleon III, and in 1856, she became his mistress.
Virginia's relationship with Napoleon served a diplomatic purpose as well. She was tasked by her cousin, Count Cavour, with convincing the emperor not to obstruct the unification of Italy. While their affair lasted only two years, it opened doors to the drawing rooms of Empress Augusta of Germany, Otto von Bismarck, and Adolphe Thiers.
A Muse to Photographers
From 1856 onward, Virginia became a constant model for Pierre-Louis Pierson, the imperial court photographer. Pierson captured her beauty in over 400 photographs, often depicting her in theatrical costumes or highlighting her elegant legs. A large collection of these photographs now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In 1857, George Frederick Watts, the renowned English painter, created a striking portrait of the countess.
Later Years and Decline
After her break-up with Napoleon III and several years spent in Italy, Virginia returned to France and settled in Passy. During the Franco-Prussian War, she played a crucial diplomatic role, successfully persuading Bismarck not to occupy Paris.
In the 1880s, Virginia developed a form of neurasthenia and retreated into her mansion on Place Vendôme. She draped the walls in black, hid her mirrors, and avoided all contact with the outside world, even going so far as to only leave her home at night.
Legacy and Commemoration
Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione, passed away from an apoplectic stroke and was laid to rest at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Her beauty and enigmatic life inspired numerous works of art, literature, and film, including:
A biography written by Robert de Montesquiou and published in 1913
A 1955 film starring Yvonne de CarloA 2000 memorial plaque erected in Florence
A perfume created by Italian perfumer Stefano Frecceri
The character of Clorinde in Émile Zola's novel "His Excellency Eugène Rougon"
Various characters in the works of Gabriele d'Annunzio
Countess di Castiglione's enduring legacy as an icon of beauty, intrigue, and diplomatic intrigue continues to fascinate generations of admirers.
