Archduchess Gisela, daughter of Franz Josef, Princess of Bavaria

[MarieCharlotte]

Did this painting survive ? Thanks for the pics and info...you are a darling dear ! 

Dear Eric, I had a look at the imprint of Kaiserin Elisabeth und ihre Töchter by Martha Schad, where I found these pictures. Gisela's painting of Palais Leopold belongs to the private collection of C. Weber. I have never heard this name before and I also don't know where this person lives. The painting of the Gloriette is the private property of one of Gisela's descendants. Schad doesn't mention a certain name.

[Romanov_fan]

Gisela did look better as she got older ( unusual!!), although she was a lovely child! Her mother was such a celebrated beauty, so obviously some of of it carried over to her. Thanks for the pictures of her especially that one of in the white dress! I am so glad I revived this thread just because I saw these pictures. Was Gisela ever considered much of a beauty? I think she was, although it was her mother's beauty that was so celebrated.

[MarieCharlotte]

I've never read that somebody who met Gisela said that she was a beauty. Usually her ugly "Habsburger-Lippe" was discussed.

I agree with you that there are some cute photographs of little Archduchess Gisela. But I don't like her looks as an adult at all.

[Romanov_fan]

I do.And indeed, no ever said she was a beauty, but she looks like a beauty to me!

[Veronika]

Gisela was a nice child, but she wasn´t beautiful when she was adult. Bet every from us feel beautiful otherwise.

[Romanov_fan]

I would not she was beautiful, more that she was pretty.

[Eric_Lowe]

Not only that...Gisela was also sweet natured. Although she was not too understanding towards her own daughter Elisabeth Seefried ! 

[grandduchessella]

What was the situation there? Did she not think the marriage was good enough?

Here's a list of Gisela's children:

Elisabeth (1874-1957); m 1893 Otto Graf von Seefried auf Buttenheim

Augusta (1875-1964); m.1893 AD Joseph of Austria 

Georg (1880-1943); m.1912 (annulled 1913) ADss Isabella of Austria (didn't he wind up taking religious orders?)

Konrad (1883-1969); m.1921 Bona Margherita of Savoy (daughter of Tommaso, Duke of Genoa & Marie Elisabeth of Bavaria; she was the niece of Queen Margherita of Italy)

I guess Elisabeth's marriage would seem pretty dynastically insignificant next to the ones made by her siblings.

[Eric_Lowe]

indeed ! It was because of Franz Josef (Elisabeth 's grandfather)'s generous decision to recieve his granddaughter into court that saved her from disgrace. Gisela was far from being the understanding mother here in this case. 

[MarieCharlotte]

That's right. Gisela and Leopold were against Elisabeth's marriage to Seefried auf Buttenheim. The couple was extremely  desperate and decided to marry in secret. When Prince and Princess Leopold celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, Elisabeth was still not allowed to enter the palais of her parents. It is said that Prinzregent Luitpold, Elisabeth's grandfather, didn't want to see her anymore.

[grandduchessella]

Ouch! Was the marriage a successful one after all the drama they went through? How did they meet?

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes it did. Franz Josef was the first to recieve the disgraced couple into Vienna (thus opening doors to them). He really loved his granddaughter. 

[MarieCharlotte]

A pretty nice photograph of the young Princess of Bavaria.

[Aliss_Kande]

What a lovely photograph!  Such an unusual profile for her.

[prinzheinelgirl]

Old New York Times article on the wedding of Gisela in Vienna.....

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F06E3DB1439E43BBC4952DFB3668388669FDE

I find her relationship with Rudolf as very sweet; it says in the article that they didn't want to let go of each other when Gisela was about to leave via the train to Munich.  Does anyone know how their relationship was after she got married?  Rudolf seemed to have lost the only family member he was close to....

I also read in one of Franz Josef's biographies that Archduchess Sophie was fond of Gisela and that she had been a very attentive granddaughter.