"I want to be a living work of art."--The Marchesa Luisa Casati
During the first half of the twentieth century, the Marchesa Luisa
Casati (1881-1957) was Europe's most notorious celebrity. Her
extravagant lifestyle, eccentric personality, and scandalous
escapades captivated and inspired some of the most influential
artists of her time. She was painted by Boldini and Augustus John,
sketched by Drian and Alastair, and photographed by Man Ray and Cecil
Beaton, among others. Jean Cocteau praised her strange beauty; Jack
Kerouac dedicated poems to her; Fortuny, Poiret, and Erte dressed
her. She continues to inspire top designers today, including John
Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld. The Marchesa Casati is a visual
biography, telling Casati's captivating life story alongside the art
and designs she has inspired, featuring 200 images covering her
lifetime and beyond. Personal family momentos, paintings, sculptures,
and photographs, some never before seen, illustrate the artistic and
cultural legacy she left behind. Runway images, sketches, and
advertorials show her continuing impact on the present-day fashion
community. "The Marchesa Casati: Portraits of a Muse explores
Casati's heart and soul. It's a wonderfully complete portrait of a
style icon, during her life and afterward, lavishly illustrated with
more than 200 images, including personal mementos, and the art and
designs she has inspired even today."–Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times,
September 13, 2009 "The story of the Marchesa Luisa Casati's life
resembles a fable for our times. Ryersson and Yaccarino present a
compelling collection of images to tell the story of Italy's richest
heiress at turn of the last century, whose married aristocratic life
and progeny were cast aside to indulge in a dramatically theatrical
existence...She emerges a heroine, living the fantasy, all the way to
the end."–Glass Magazine "With incredible passion for the Marchesa
Casati, Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino have worked
tirelessly to create a stunning homage and a visual biography to this
legendary woman who continues to inspire fashion and style." --Diane
von Furstenberg
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