The Ornamented Being

Panel of glazed tiles by Jorge Colaço (1922) depicting an episode from the battle of Aljubarrota (1385) between the Portuguese and Castillian armies. A piece of public art in Lisbon, Portugal.

Dress c. 1700 Italy, I believe LACMA

Topless dueling?

I know it’s a long text but it’s worth the read!

“The most intriguing duel fought between women, and the sole one that featured exposed breasts, took place in August 1892 in Verduz, the capitol of Liechtenstein, between Princess Pauline Metternich and the Countess Kielmannsegg. It has gone down in history as the first “emancipated duel” because all parties involved, including the principals and their seconds were female… Before the proceedings began, the baroness pointed out that many insignificant injuries in duels often became septic due to strips of clothing being driven into the wound by the point of a sword. To counter this danger she prudently suggested that both parties should fight stripped of any garments above the waist. Certainly, Baroness Lubinska was ahead of her time, taking an even more radical take on the (at the time) widely dismissed theories of British surgeon Joseph Lister, who in 1870 revolutionized surgical procedures with the introduction of antiseptic. 

With the precautions Baroness Lubinska recommended, the topless women duelists were less likely to suffer from an infection; indeed, it was a smart idea to fight semiclad. Given the practicality of the baroness’ suggestion and the “emancipated” nature of the duel, it was agreed that the women would disrobe—after all, there would be no men present to ogle them. For the women, the decision to unbutton the tops of their dresses was not sexual; it was simply a way of preventing a duel of first blood from becoming a duel to the death.

… 

It is humorous that most recounts of this historic event fail to mention two important things: the winner of the duel (Princess Metternich) and the reason why the women came to arms in the first place—they disagreed over the floral arrangements for an upcoming musical exhibition.”

^ best part of the entire article. 

Whether or not this is entirely true is debated. This article is from The Terrific Register  and was written in 1825 so I doubt the complete veracity of the facts but it’s truly an amusing story.

   The duke of Richelieu was the cause of an unprecedented duel between two females, Madame de Polignac and Madame de Nesle, who disputed the possession of him.  The duke had repeatedly refused to the see the former, but this was of no avail.  Madame de Polignac still loved her inconstant gallant with as much ardour as ever, and was therefore jealous of all the ladies that had succeeded her, not singly, but in troops.  Tortured by jealousy, she one day met Madame de Nesle, and challenged her to fight with pistols in the Bois de Boulonge.  Madame de Nesle eagerly accepted the challenge, being animated by the same spirit as her fair antagonist, and hoping either to kill her antagonist, and thus remain in undisturbed possession of her lover, or to evince the strength of her attachment, and the ardour of her passion, by an honourable death.  The ladies met, and fired at each other.  Madame de Nesle fell, and her fair bosom was covered with blood.  “Come on,” exclaimed her antagonist, “I will teach you the consequences of robbing a woman like me of her lover; if I had the perfidious creature in my power I would tear out her heart as I have blown out her brains.”

     A young man who had heard these cruel words, begged her to moderate herself, and not exult over her unfortunate opponent, whose courage, at least, could not but command her respect.  “Silence, young coxcomb,” cried Madame de Polignac, “it does not become you to give me instruction.”  *insert snickers at the insults* 

     Madame de Nesle had not been wounded in the breast, as had first been feared, but very slightly in the shoulder.  On coming to herself, some person asked her if the lover, for whose sake she had fought, was worth exposing herself to such a risk for him?  “O yes,” replied she, “he deserves much better blood than what circulates in my veins to be shed for him.  He is the most amiable man of the whole court; all the ladies lay snares for him; but I hope, after this proof of love which I have given, to obtain the exclusive possession of his heart.  I am under too great obligations to you,” continued she, “to conceal his name,——it is the duke de Richelieu; yes, the duke de Richelieu, the first-born of the God of War and the Goddess of Love.”

*dissolves in laughter*

Such a bad photo (and such awful dialogue) but that’s honestly the best I find of either lady (also their clothing isn’t very early 18th century either). The second photo is of the man they fought over. No to point fingers or anything buuuut total popinjay right there! Either way I am loving those red heels! 

Did I say Madame de Saint-Belmont was my favorite? I’ve changed my mind! Julie d’Aubigny aka Mademoiselle Maupin is now my absolute favorite woman!

I don’t agree with everything this website wrote about her but it’s the best site with the most legitimate sources I’ve found. Here is just a brief summary of who she was. The actual article was entirely too long to post. However I have linked my source so feel free to read about her scandalous  exploits!

 ”La Maupin, 17th century French swordswoman, adventuress and opera star, was like something out of a novel by Dumas or Sabatini, except for two things. First she was real, and second few authors would have attributed her exploits to a woman. Theophile Gautier borrowed her name and a few of her characteristics for the heroine of his novel Mademoiselle De Maupin, but in many ways his character was only a pale imitation of the original. The real Maupin was a complex creature. Well born and privileged, she knew how to use her influential friends and contacts to get what she wanted or to escape danger, but she was also proud and self-reliant. She seems to have craved the center stage, reveling in both fame and infamy. She had a fiery temperament and equally fiery passion, often the fool for love.

M^lle. Maupin was, excepting her sex, the very image of the swashbuckling romantic cavalier: tall, dark and handsome, one of the finest swordswomen or swordsmen of her day. She was athletically built, had very white skin and dark auburn curls with blonde highlights, blue eyes, an aquiline nose, a pretty mouth and, it is said, perfect breasts (or perhaps just a lovely throat).

She was also a star of one of the greatest theaters of her day — the Paris Opera. She had a lovely contralto voice and a phenomenal memory. Although she was largely unschooled in music and is said by some to have had little talent for singing, her good looks, beautiful voice, love of attention, excellent memory and flamboyance seem to have suited her well for stardom on the stage of the Paris Opera.

She is said to have been “born with masculine inclinations” as well as having been educated in a very masculine way. Certainly, she often dressed as a man and when she did so could be mistaken for one. She also seemed to have at least as much an eye for members of her own sex as for men. Her skill with the sword, either in exhibition or duels fought in earnest, seems to have been exceptional.” 

(Source: eldacur.com)