Contessa di Castiglione_9

Beauty list created by rickterenzi

Sœur Elise, 1860s.
Passy was an ancient commune of the Seine, absorbed into Paris on 1st January 1860. Since then, it is a quarter of the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, settled in Passy in 1861, after her return to France.
All photos by Pierre-Louis Pierson.

La nonne blanche, 1860s.

La Reine d'Étrurie, 1860s.
Etruria (usually called Thyrrenia in Greek and Latin historical sources) was a Central Italy region that included part of today's Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria. It hosted the Etruscan civilization (circa 800 B.C.-300 B.C.).
(See also following pictures.)

La petite Reine d'Étrurie, 1860s.

La Reine d'Étrurie, 1860s.

Judith, 1860s.

Le voile, 1860s.

Pied de Judith, 1860s.

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Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione. Portrait by Michele Gordigiani, 1862.

Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini Verasis Asinari, Countess of Castiglione, was born in Florence on 22nd March 1837.

In 1856-1857, she became the mistress of the Emperor of France Napoléon III. After the end of their relationship, she continued to influence the French foreign policy.
In July 1856, Virginia Oldoini also began posing for Pierre-Louis Pierson, a photographer favored by the imperial court. In three different periods (1856-58, 1861-67 and 1893-95), she directed Pierson in 700 photographs inspired by her mundane life.

Virgini Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, died in Paris on 28th November 1899.

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