She was one of the most famous French actress/courtesans of the 2nd Empire and was known as “Mademoiselle Maximum.” It was said that if you put her on top of Mount Blanc, she would still be accesible. She was voluptuousness in flesh and blood. Her most famous lover/protector was the Duc d’Aumale. Traveling by train to see the Duke, Leonide shared a first-class compartment with some society matrons whose country estates were in the vicinity of the Duke’s chateau. Each was showing off how well she knew its master. “I’m lunching with the duke tomorrow,” announced one. “We’re having tea with him Saturday,” claimed the next, while a third kept up the round with “ We are invited to dine there on Sunday.” At this moment the train pulled into the station. Leonide rose and said with her sweetest smile, “And I, ladies, am sleeping with His Highness tonight.”
My interests are in Victorian period photographs of actress/courtesans, African explorers, British military (Zulu War), and French "grand horizontals" of La Belle Epoque. I am always interested in acquiring new images in my interest areas through purchase or trade and will occasionally sell duplicate images.
I would like to thank Laure Deratte of Paris for her kind assistance and expertise in helping me establish this blog.
To contact: rshee434@aol.com
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Cora Pearl (1835-1886) Born Emma Elizabeth Crouch in England, she became
the most famous courtesan--the Queen of Tarts--of the French Second Empire.
Her cl...
10 ans après, le livre est là !!!!
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*COURTISANES,*
*Portraits poétiques et photographiques de la galanterie sous Napoléon III*
Textes et images rassemblés par Laure Deratte
17 x 22,6 cm, ...