Video: Century Ball: Unique Photos from the 1951 Venetian Masquerade
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Masquerade balls enjoyed great popularity in the twentieth century. In 1951, Venice hosted one of the largest fancy-dress celebrations of the century, the first celebration of this magnitude since the end of World War II. Among those invited were, among others, Salvador Dali, Christian Dior, Princess Natalya Pavlovna Paley, the guests were received by the famous billionaire, nicknamed the Count of Monte Cristo of the 20th century.
The celebration took place in the Venetian palace of billionaire Don Carlos de Beisteguy. Carlos made his fortune in silver mines in Mexico, he himself came from a Spanish-Mexican family, but lived all his life in Europe. He loved to shock the audience, arrange large-scale holidays, and the 1951 ball, undoubtedly, became his favorite brainchild, because he gathered all the color of modern high society.
The organization of the holiday was at the highest level: in six months, thousand guests were sent out invitations, among the participants of the masquerade ball were famous actors, fashion designers, artists, aristocrats and the richest people from different countries of the world. People arrived in Venice by ships and trains, the journey was long and took several days.
Salvador Dali and Christian Dior exchanged "pleasantries" for the holiday and came up with costumes for each other. So, Dior marched accompanied by black and white giants, called "phantoms of Venice." A huge wig, 5 feet 6 inches long, was created for the host of the ball, and he himself wore high platform shoes.
This ball became fateful for fashion designer Pierre Cardin, he created 30 outfits for the holiday and immediately became one of the most coveted fashion designers among the bohemian public.
Many of the costumes for the ball were created from old designs with the help of consultants who helped to achieve historical accuracy. Thus, the collector Arturo Lopez-Wilshaw and his wife Patricia wore the outfits of the Chinese imperial couple, recreated from the image from the tapestry. Lady Diana Cooper presented herself in a Cleopatra costume, recreated from a fresco by Tiepolo.
Also went down in history the last costume ball of the Russian Empire, which took place in the Winter Palace on February 13, 1903.
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