Table of contents:
- A bit of history
- The story of the scandalous Russian beauty Barbara Rimskaya-Korsakova, who eclipsed the empress of France herself
- Russian Venus
Video: How a Russian beauty overshadowed the French empress and conquered Paris: Varvara Rimskaya-Korsakova
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Russian beauty Barbara Rimskaya-Korsakova, nee Mergasova, who shone in high society in the middle of the 19th century not only in Russia, but also in Europe, was a legendary person. This charming woman, who captivated those around her with her charming appearance, shocking and unbridled character, lived a short but bright life. Once she even managed to surpass the French queen Eugenie, the wife of the last emperor of France, Napoleon III.
A bit of history
The nephew of Napoleon I, Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, after the French Revolution of 1948 tried to seize power in the country by conspiracies, but came to it peacefully as the president of the republic. Three years later, Napoleon III, having carried out a coup d'état, abolished the legislature and established an authoritarian regime, proclaiming himself the emperor of the Second Empire.
And it so happened historically that the French monarchs in all centuries paid special attention to fashion. Therefore, France has always been a trendsetter both throughout Europe and in Russia. And in the era of the Second Empire, splendor and luxury returned to fashion again - the second rococo or, the so-called fashion of Empress Eugenia.
After the coup, the imperial court continued to live according to the court etiquette established under the First Empire, with a large number of courtiers and the imperial guard. Napoleon III, like his uncle, sought to dazzle Europe with excessive pomp, splendor and wealth. Eclipsing the neighboring powers, Paris became the center of fashion during the years of his reign.
The emperor himself carefully monitored his appearance, tastefully choosing a wardrobe and accessories. It was he who brought into fashion a long pomaded mustache and a Spanish goatee beard.
And what can we say about Eugene de Montijo, who, after marrying Napoleon III at the age of 27, began to be considered a style icon. Eugenia, a Spaniard by birth, received a brilliant education, was also famous for her dazzling beauty. And after marriage, the Empress became a trendsetter for the whole of Europe. Her personal tastes began to shape the fashion of the 50s and 60s of the 19th century.
In addition, during the reign of her husband, the Empress introduced in Europe a fashion for comfort, travel, perfume, large hotels, and rest on the coast. Eugenia adored painting, and among many artists she singled out the German portraitist Winterhalter, who was invited to court painters by Napoleon III, and who became famous in the history of painting for a huge number of portraits of secular beauties of Europe. By the way, two magnificent portraits of Varvara Rimskaya-Korsakova belong to the brushes of the eminent artist. Nowadays, the first is kept in Penza, the second - in Paris.
Read also: Why ladies were lining up to see the most popular portrait painter of the 19th century: Franz the Magnificent.
The story of the scandalous Russian beauty Barbara Rimskaya-Korsakova, who eclipsed the empress of France herself
And it happened in the winter of 1863 in the Tuileries - the royal palace in the center of Paris, which was transformed with marble and gilding. Its luxury was dazzling. The emperor and his wife, trying to show all of Europe the splendor and former pomp of the French court, constantly held masquerade balls. The ladies of the court and gentlemen adorned themselves with jewelry without measure, including fake ones. The clothes were exquisitely chic. And the Empress Eugenia de Montijo herself gave an example to all this, who did not miss an opportunity to flaunt in front of others, some intricate dress. Perhaps, in this way, the empress was trying to demonstrate herself to her husband, who was only looking for a moment in order to disappear unnoticed from the palace and have fun in glory in the society of Parisian actresses.
And so, during one of the masquerades held in the palace by the imperial couple, when those present meticulously studied each other's costumes, talking about who surpassed everyone else in luxury, wealth and imagination, Barbara Rimskaya-Korsakova appears at the ball in the costume of the priestess of Tanita (image from the work of Gustave Flaubert "Salammbeau", which was then in great fashion). Barbara's attire was only gauze, thrown over her shoulders and tied at the waist.
Seeing a Russian aristocrat in such a revealing outfit, all the guests froze. And the face of Empress Eugenia, turning purple, went red spots. A magnificent figure, practically nude, appeared in front of an admiring crowd. Everyone seemed to be spellbound, holding their breath, admiring the dazzlingly beautiful body … But after a few minutes, the guardians of order literally ran up to Rimskaya-Korsakova and suggested that she immediately leave the palace. Varvara Dmitrievna defiantly left, showing with all her looks that no jewelry and rich clothes can compare with her natural beauty. The scandal turned out to be excellent, it only added several times the popularity of an immodest beauty from Russia. For a long time, the Parisian aristocracy discussed in detail the shocking appearance at the ball of a Russian aristocrat, who angered the French empress.
Russian Venus
Varvara Dmitrievna came from a little-known noble family of the Mergasovs, in contrast to the family of her husband, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, whose family was well known. His grandfather, Adjutant General Ivan Nikolayevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a favorite of Catherine II, and the composer Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov brought special fame to this surname.
Having married at the age of 16, Varvara became the mother of three children by the age of 21, which had absolutely no effect on her magnificent figure. At the same time, she did not lose her girlish freshness. There was no end to the fans of the young beauty, which caused unbridled jealousy in her husband, a brave handsome hussar, which once led to a duel. Soon the couple divorced. The only way to avoid scandals for Varvara Dmitrievna was to go abroad. She settled in France. Prince D. Obolensky, who was familiar with her, wrote that Varvara Dmitrievna
Varvara Dmitrievna Rimskaya-Korsakova was indeed one of the first beauties of the high society who conquered in the middle of the 19th century. Moscow and St. Petersburg, and then Europe. She became the prototype of Lidi Korsunskaya in the novel by Leo Tolstoy "Anna Karenina", where the author called her "an impossibly naked beauty." Russian Venus really shocked the high society with her overly revealing outfits. It was said that at a resort in Biarritz, Russian Venus looked "as if she had just come out of a bath." And at a ball in the Ministry of the Navy, she appeared on a chariot in the dress of a savage, she was wearing only scraps of fabric and feathers, which allowed everyone around to appreciate "the most perfect legs in all of Europe."
Numerous fans more than once called the beauty down the aisle, but she invariably refused. Varvara Rimskaya-Korsakova died suddenly at the age of 45 from a heart attack. Her son sold her estate in France and returned to Russia to his father. He named his daughter Varya after his mother.
Continuing the topic about fashion, read: Fashion on the verge of madness: How in the 19th century, ladies adorned themselves with stuffed birds and dead insects
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