Empress Elisabeth, Part I

[pushkina]

hamann says explicitly that sisi never allowed photographs of her in her later life; that the best photographers could do was to recycle her young head onto a more currently attired body.

all my books are in storage now but if silja is still on this trhead, perhaps she could dig up the reference.

[Martyn]

hamann says explicitly that sisi never allowed photographs of her in her later life; that the best photographers could do was to recycle her young head onto a more currently attired body.

all my books are in storage now but if silja is still on this trhead, perhaps she could dig up the reference.

I suppose this fits in with her obsessive attitude to her face and figure....

[crazy_wing]

I suppose this fits in with her obsessive attitude to her face and figure....

Yes, Joan Haslip's book also mentioned that.  When she is photographed, she either had a veil on or had her fan out to cover her face up.  All the paintings done later on were based on photographs taken when she was in her late 20s, early 30s.  

In her later life, she also had skin problems.  I remembered from the Haslip book, FJ told Katherina Schratt that Sisi had rashes and he told Schratt not to be horrified when she visits Sisi.  

[Martyn]

In her later life, she also had skin problems

What do we think these skin problems were?  Stress related conditions such as psoriasis or eczema?  Or a result of poor nutrition?

[Silja]

Crazy_wing, the second portrait of Elisabeth (face on, with loose hair) originally hung in Franz Josef's study.  It hadn't occurred to me that anyone who had been granted a private audience would see this very intimate image of the Empress; I'm a little surprised that FJ would permit this....

The tour guide in the Hofburg told us this  .  

[Silja]

hamann says explicitly that sisi never allowed photographs of her in her later life; that the best photographers could do was to recycle her young head onto a more currently attired body.

all my books are in storage now but if silja is still on this trhead, perhaps she could dig up the reference.

Yes, that's what I have read. Above I already quoted from Hamann's Portraits of an Empress. IN the foreword she also writes: "Nobody outside the closest members of the family could observe the face of the ageing Elisabeth. Artists and illustrators made their own "legend"-like pictures of her . . .  The photographers depended more and more on the old available photos of the young Sisi in order to make the portraits of the forty to fifty  year old woman more acceptable."

I can only repeat that I have my doubts over that alleged photo from later life. Especially as it bears no resemblance to that snapshot from the 1890s.

[crazy_wing]

What do we think these skin problems were?  Stress related conditions such as psoriasis or eczema?  Or a result of poor nutrition?

I don't quite remember what caused it.  I don't have the books with me now so i can't check it out now.   But you are probably right that it is caused by both poor nutrition and stress.  

The skin problems was not mentioned in joan haslip's book.  I made a mistake.  I just realized it is in "Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph" by Alan Palmer.  

[crazy_wing]

Amazing, so that is the dress!  Is this a stupid question -what colour is it?

It is probably black.  She never wore any other colors again after the death of her son.  

[gleb]

Has anyone got pics of the Kaiservilla at Bad Ischl?
I mean interior photos, especially of the imperial app. but also of the other rooms. I tried to look for them, but they seems to be very rare.

Thanks for the help.

p.s.

I'd need to find a german person, who could help me to translate the legend in a plan I found (Bad Ischl).

Many thanks

[Joanna]

Has anyone got pics of the Kaiservilla at Bad Ischl? I mean interior photos, especially of the imperial app. but also of the other rooms. I tried to look for them, but they seems to be very rare.

Hi Gleb

I have photos of FJ's rooms that I can scan and email to you. The Archduke does not allow interior photography but allowed me to take one from FJ's study balcony. His suite is in the right wing on the second floor at the rear with one window of his study facing the ischl and the other the path to the Marmorschlossl. Next to his study is FJ's bedroom which is very small with one window also facing the path.

Joanna

[gleb]

Just wanted to suggest you not to read Petacco's books, becouse as you said they are very inaccurate and full of gossips. Consider that I am italian.

[gleb]

Does anyone has pics of Godollo castle?

Many thanks

[Martyn]

Her sisters have a look of Sissi but cannot compare really in the beauty department!
And if Gleb says that Petacco's books are full of inaccuracies then that is good enough for me....Gleb do you have any pictures of Godollo at all?

[Silja]

Hi Martyn,

If you want to see pictures of Gödöllö, go to the following web site:

http://www.kiralyikastely.hu/

[Martyn]

OH thank you Silja, too kind.  I'm sure that I have seen a a picture of the facade ages ago; is it a baroque structure?
I did a quick google search on it but didn't have time to look very far. thanks so much for the link - I'm sure that Gleb will be grateful too.