[Countess de Castiglione, from Série des Roses]

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting *Countess de Castiglione, from Série des Roses* (1895), we encounter a captivating portrait of Virginia Oldoini, the de Castiglione, captured by photographer Pierre-Louis Pi. This intimate albumen silver print from glass negative, measuring just 14.3 x 9.9 cm, belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection. The Countess, an Italian noblewoman turned 19th-century icon, stares directly at the viewer amid her signature rose-themed series, embodying a blend of aristocratic elegance and theatrical flair. The Countess was a trailblazing figure in early photography, commissioning over 400 images of herself between the 1850s and 1890s through Pierson's studio, Mayer & Pierson. Known as the "world's first fashion model" and muse to Napoleon III, she used these self-directed tableaux to craft her public persona, foreshadowing modern celebrity culture and performance art. Created at the twilight of the albumen era—a wet-collodion process yielding richly toned, detailed prints—this work highlights photography's shift from documentary to artistic expression. Part of the Met's Photographs department, this piece celebrates women's portraits and the era's fascination with beauty and identity, inviting us to ponder how one woman harnessed the camera to redefine glamour and power.

About the Artist

Countess Virginia Oldoini Verasis di Castiglione|Pierre-Louis Pierson (French| ) · 1822 |1835 –1913 |1899

French, 1822–1913|1835–1899