this night wounds time, dedicated to Virginia Oldoini aka La Castiglione

2012.01.22.11.10

dedicated to Virginia Oldoini aka La Castiglione

is it me, is it you who wears another face

Virginia Oldoini aka La Castiglione Images collaged from "Madame de Castiglione posant devant l'objectif de Pierson" in a photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson, c. 1863 / 66.

"is it me, is it you who wears another face" is taken from the lyrics from "Behind The Mask" by Chris Mosdell - Ryuichi Sakamoto.
In 1979, the original version of "Behind The Mask" is included in the album "Solid State Survivor" by Yellow Magic Orchestra.
In 1987, Eric Clapton covered this song for his album "August" (You can listen this version here).
In 2011, Michael Jackson covered this song for his album "Michael" (You can listen this version here).

George Frederic Watts painted her portrait "Countess Castuglone" in 1857 (left).
Michele Gordigiani painted her portrait "La comtesse de Castiglione" in 1862 (right).

In 1856 she began sitting for Mayer et Pierson, photographers favored by the imperial court. She directed Pierre-Louis Pierson to help her create 700 photographs. "Madame de Castiglione posant devant l'objectif de Pierson" is the one of the most famous photos (you can see some photos here) by Mayer et Pierson.

In her later years, she had lived in the black rooms in which there are darker mirrors and shuttered windows because she had been afraid of her guests having found she had been old and lost her beauty. In this years she had never gotten out unless the night had come, like Floressas des Esseintes from the novel "A rebours" written by Joris-Karl Huysmans (In this novel, there is "L'araignee souriante" drawn by Odilon Redon in the room of Floressas des Esseintes).