Friday, September 18, 2009

Portraits of a Muse: Marchesa Luisa Casati



What do the following things have in common: evening strolls with leopards, dinner parties with mannequins, live snakes as jewelry, and nude servants gilded in gold leaves? That's right -- the Marchesa Luisa Casati, arguably one of the most extraordinary and eccentric women to have ever lived!

An Italian heiress, who shocked the world during the early twentieth century, Casati was photographed, painted, written about, and loved by many...though understood by few.

In October 2009, The Marchesa Casati: Portraits of a Muse will be published internationally by Abrams (New York). This completely new, deluxe coffee-table book by Ryersson and Yaccarino will surely be the ultimate homage to the subject in words and images.

This book is officially going to the top of my Christmas list! Want to know more about the eccentric Marchesa? Check out the fabulous website dedicated to her life and exploits.

~I want to be a living work of art. ~Casati

6 comments:

Ashe said...

This books looks absolutely amazing. I'll have to check out the website as well, because while her name is familiar (from an art history class, perhaps?), I don't know nearly enough about her life...

Courtney said...

Yes! It's good to learn about feisty, eccentric, artistic women! Thanks for posting this!

Anonymous said...

Love these, specially the third one. The hair is amazing, colour, haircut... :)

s.i. michaels said...

Ooo, definitely want to read up on her. Sounds right up my alley.

{Tara} said...

Ashe -- The website is actually quite informative by itself!

Courtney -- But of course, my dear!

Ithunter -- I also love her hair...I really want to do pin curls some time.

Ambika -- You will love her!

Matthias Pierre Lubinsky said...

Very nice! The marchesa Luisa Casati was one of the greatest female dandys of the 19th century.

For german fans of her and other dandys:
http://dandy-club.blogspot.com