~ Courtesans, Virginia Oldoini ~

Virginia Oldoini, countess di Castiglione (1835—1899) was a Tuscan noblewoman and a courtesan who occupied a prominent position in the courts of both Turin and Paris and influenced Franco-Italian political relations.

Married in 1854 to Count Francesco Verasis di Castiglione, who was attached to the court of King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia-Piedmont (later of Italy), she possessed a charm that, along with her sharp wit, gained her an influential position in the society of Turin, which called her “la divina contessa.” The Italian prime minister Count di Cavour, understanding the political possibilities of such a captivating woman, sent her to Paris in 1856.

The countess quickly won the heart of the French court of Napoleon III, upon whom she exercised considerable influence. She is said to have contributed to the Franco-Sardinian alliance, although her precise political impact remains obscure. Her diplomatic correspondence is believed to have been destroyed by the Italian government.

Having fallen into disfavour in 1860, for unclear reasons, she withdrew from Paris. She returned a year later but had lost much of her influence. The Parisian society she had known fell in 1870 along with the French Empire, and the countess lived in retreat in Paris until her death.

During the last four decades of her life, the countess commissioned photographic portraits of herself from photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson of the fashionable Paris studio Mayer & Pierson.

Illustration : The Countess of Castiglione around 1863 and 1866

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~ Courtesans, Mah Laqa Bai ~

Mah Laqa Bai (1768–1824) was an Indian 18th century Urdu poet, courtesan (tawaif) and philanthropist.

In 1824, she became the first female poet to have a diwan (collection of poems) of her work, a compilation of Urdu Ghazals named Gulzar-e-Mahlaqa, published posthumously. She lived in a period when Dakhini (a version of Urdu) was making its transition into the highly Persianized Urdu. Her literary contributions provide insight into such linguistic transformations in southern India.

Mah Laqa Bai was an influential courtesan of the Deccan; the Nizam, ruler of Hyderabad, appointed her to the omarah (the highest nobility), and as a close affiliate at the court, she was discussed on state policies and accomplished assigned diplomatic engagements. An expert in spear throwing and archery, she accompanied Nizam II in three battles, hunting expeditions and camping.

Painting : Mah Laqa Bai dancing in the court of Raja Rao Rambha Bahadur, by Khushhal Khan

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~ Courtesans, Dorothea Jordan ~

Dorothea Jordan (1761—1816) was an actress and courtesan, especially famed for her high-spirited comedy and tomboy roles.

Jordan’s mother, Grace Phillips, who was also known as Mrs. Frances was a Dublin actress. She made her stage debut in 1777 in Dublin as Phoebe in As You Like It, and in 1779 she played in Henry Fielding’s farce The Virgin Unmasked at the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin. She then acted with the provincial company of Tate Wilkinson until 1785, when she played in London. She retired in 1814.

Dorothea had a daughter by her first manager in Dublin, 3 children by Richard Ford, and 10 children by the duke of Clarence (later William IV). The children by the duke were ennobled. When she and the duke separated by mutual consent in 1811, she received a handsome allowance. In 1815 she went to France and died there the following year.

She was also a model and the subject of portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and George Romney.

Painting : Dorothea Jordan as Hippolyta, by John Hoppner

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~ Courtesans, Fillide Melandroni ~

Fillide Melandroni (1581–1618) was an Italian courtesan and a model for Caravaggio.

Melandroni’s father, Enea, died when she was young. Her mother took Fillide and her brother to Rome. Her friend Anna Bianchini, Bianchini's mother and sister went to Rome with them. Soon after, the two mothers set the girls to work as prostitutes. Melandroni and Bianchini were arrested in 1594 for being outside the brothel quarter after dusk, suspected of soliciting. They were just 13 and 14 years old respectively at the time.

Melandroni rose amongst the ranks of prostitutes to become one of the most sought-after women in Rome. She had a house in Rome's Ortaccio, and many wealthy clients, including cardinals and bankers. One of the most notable was Italian banker and art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani who was the patron of the artist Caravaggio.

Fillide Melandroni figured prominently in Caravaggio's work, appearing in Portrait of a Courtesan, as Saint Catherine, as Mary in Martha and Mary Magdalene, and as Judith in Judith Beheading Holofernes.

Painting : Detail of Fillide Melandroni from Judith Beheading Holofernes, by Caravaggio

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