Virginia Oldoini

Virginia Oldoini
The Countess of Castiglione in a photo by Pierre-Louise Pierson, c.1863/66
Born	Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini 22 March 1837 Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Died	28 November 1899 (aged 62) Paris, France
Burial place	Père Lachaise Cemetery 48°51′36″N 2°23′46″E / 48.860°N 2.396°E / 48.860; 2.396
Known for	Photographic artist and supposed secret agent
Title	Countess of Castiglione
Spouse(s)	Francesco Verasis di Castiglione
Children	Giorgio Verasis di Castiglione
Parent(s)	Marquis Filippo Oldoini Isabella Lamporecchi

Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (22 March 1837 – 28 November 1899), better known as La Castiglione, was born to an aristocratic family from La Spezia. She was a 19th-century Italian who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography.

Born Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoïni, (French: Virginie Élisabeth Louise Charlotte Antoinette Thérèse Marie Oldoïni) on 22 March 1837 in Florence, Tuscany to Marquis Filippo Oldoini and Isabella Lamporecchi, members of the minor Tuscan nobility, she was often known by her nickname of "Nicchia". She married Francesco Verasis, Count of Castiglione, at the age of 17. He was twelve years her senior. They had a son, Giorgio.

Her cousin, Camillo, Count of Cavour, was a minister to Victor Emmanuel II, king of Sardinia (that included Piedmont and Savoy). 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 achieved notoriety by becoming Napoleon III's mistress, a scandal that led her husband to demand a marital separation. During her relationship with the French emperor in 1856 and 1857, she entered the social circle of European royalty. She met Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Otto von Bismarck and Adolphe Thiers, among others.

The Countess was known for her beauty and her flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the imperial court. One of her most infamous outfits was a "Queen of Hearts" costume.George Frederic Watts painted her portrait in 1857. She was described as having long, wavy blonde hair, pale skin, a delicate oval face, and eyes that constantly changed colour from green to an extraordinary blue-violet.