I've been a bit obsessed with this photograph for over a year now, but just got around to finding out who she was besides The Mistress...
Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione (22 March1837–28 November1899), better known as La Castiglione, was an Italian courtesan and secret agent who achieved notoriety as a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. Known for her "divine beauty" and flamboyant entrances in elaborate dress at the imperial court, she was partly responsible for Italian unification due to the influence she had upon the Emperor. She was also a significant figure in the early history of photography as a model and collaborator of photographer Pierre-Louis Pierson.
Over the next four decades she would collaborate with Pierre-Louis Pierson on over 400 photographs in which she re-created the signature moments of her life for the camera, only a few of which - mostly from her later years - survived.
(from Wikipedia)
...I love her even more.
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