Curtezane, amante, prostituate, “Lorette”… toate sunt la fel, nu? Nu deloc! Curtezanele nu erau obiecte anonime, de “unica folosinta”, ca si celelalte de pe lista. Erau precum “obiecte de lux”, precum portelanurile fine. Curtezanele – asa-numite pentru ca si-au petrecut timpul la Curtea Regelui – au cerut admiratie.
Curtezanele si-au insotit admiratorii in public. Curtezanele aveau nume pe care toata lumea le cunostea, viata lor nu era considerata rusinoasa, ci colorata si interesanta. Au purtat cele mai noi aparitii in moda pentru a-si arata contemporaneitatea si gusturile scumpe. Un asemenea “penaj” era irezistibil pentru barbatii bogați care cautau o partenera exotica pentru a scapa de o casatorie plictisitoare.
Liane de Pougy a fost o curtezana Franceza, Belle Epoque. La varsta de 18 ani, si-a abandonat sotul abuziv pentru a-si lansa cariera. In mod deschis bisexuala, ea a devenit atat de faimoasa incat a fost cunoscuta sub numele de “notre courtisane nationale” – curtezana noastra nationala. Cu toate acestea, la varsta de 50 de ani, realizand că “bunurile” ei isi pierd valoarea, s-a casatorit cu un print roman, George Ghika, dar si-a continuat “afacerile” bisexuale. Asta da, stil!
Curtezanele puteau influenta evenimentele istorice. Nascuta intr-o familie nobila in 1837, Virginia Oldoini a crescut, devenind o bruneta cu ochi albaștri, care vorbea mai multe limbi. Ea l-a sedus pe Louis Napoleon, imparatul francez, si l-a convins sa uneasca Italia. Patru ani mai tarziu, a fost proclamat Regatul Italiei.
Nemultumita cu rolul de a fi doar catalizator pentru crearea unui Stat European, ea a pornit intr-o aventura cu noul rege italian, Victor Emmanuel al II-lea. Pentru a-si satisface gusturile hedoniste, Virginia l-a convins pe rege sa-i dea un somptuos apartament in Florența, Palatul Pitti, impreună cu o pensie mare.
In praise of Courtesans
Prostitutes, lorettes, mistresses, and courtesans; they are all the same, right? Not at all! Courtesans were not anonymous, disposable items, like the others on the list. They were luxury items, like fine porcelain. Courtesans – so-called because they spent their time at the King’s court – commanded admiration.
Courtesans accompanied their admirers in public. Courtesans had names that everyone knew, their lives were not considered to be shameful, but colorful and exciting. They wore the latest fashions to signal their contemporary nature and expensive tastes. Such plumage was irresistible to rich men looking for an exotic partner to escape a dull marriage.
Liane de Pougy (above) was a French, Belle Epoque, the courtesan. At the age of 18, she abandoned her abusive husband to launch her career. Openly bisexual, she became so famous that she was known as ‘Notre Courtisanes Nationale’ – our national courtesan. However, at the age of 50, realizing her ‘assets’ were losing their value, she married a Romanian Prince, George Ghika, but continued her bisexual affairs. That’s style!
Courtesans could influence historical events. Born into a noble family in 1837, Virginia Oldoini she grew up to be a brunette with blue eyes who spoke several languages.
She seduced Louis Napoleon, the French Emperor, and persuaded him to unite Italy. Four years later, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. Not satisfied with being the catalyst for the creation of a European State, she embarked on an affair with the new Italian king, Victor Emmanuel II. To satisfy her hedonistic tastes, Virginia persuaded the king to give her a sumptuous apartment in Florence’s Pitti Palace, along with a big pension.
But she was not satisfied for long. She gave herself the title, Countess Castiglione, and moved to Paris where the recent invention of photography dazzled her with the possibility of a career in modeling. At the Imperial Court, she became the world’s first fashion model. More than 400 photographs have survived.
There have been many famous courtesans over the centuries. Sadly, however, there are none today. The classy courtesan has been replaced by the rather vulgar ‘celebrity’, who does not have the pedigree, education, or intelligence of someone like Liane de Pougy or Virginia Oldoini.