#giuseppina grassini

[portrait-paintings]

Portrait of Giuseppina Grassini in the Role of Zaire

Artist: Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French, 1755–1842)

Date: 1800-1805

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Normandy, France

Giuseppina Grassini

Gioseppa Maria Camilla, commonly known as Giuseppina (or also Josephina) Grassini (8 April 1773[a] – 3 January 1850) was a noted Italian dramatic contralto, and a singing teacher. She was a celebrity of considerable stature, noted for her beauty and regarded as one of the best singers in Europe. Giuseppina was also known for her affairs with Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington. She sang in various productions by composers such as Cimarosa, Cherubini and Zingarelli.

[books0977]

Portrait of Giuseppina Grassini (1803). Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French, 1755-1842). Oil on canvas. Musée Calvet.

Painted in London where Mme Vigée-Lebrun was staying after the Peace of Amiens. The model is the famous Grassini, “first singer of His Majesty the Emperor and King.” Her career, which began at the age of sixteen, took her from Venice (Pirro de Paisiello, 1792) to Naples, where she sang in Artemisia de Cimarosa for the wedding of Prince Francis of Bourbon. In 1800, she conquered Napoleon by singing a vibrant Marseillaise at La Scala, to celebrate the entry of the French into Milan.

[malchiusoportone]

One day, in my home, a discussion took place between virtuous men about Fontenelle's Dialogues des morts. MM. Fauriel, Mignet, Ballanche, Villemain and Sampajo took part. Meanwhile, Mme Grassini arrived for a visit and, without anyone paying attention, sat down silently. God knows what she understood about the conversation! Suddenly, abandoning the literary side of the discussion, we began to speculate that modern souls were meeting in the Champs-Elysées.

“What kind of dialogue—someone asked—do you think took place when Napoléon found himself face to face [ombre à ombre] with Louis XVIII? Did they approach each other philosophically or fraternally? With etiquette or with abandon?”

We pondered, we hesitated; awaiting the answer... when Grassini's contralto voice burst forth, rendered more pleasant by a strong Italian accent:

“I'm going to tell you!—cried she—I knew the emperor well! The great Napoléon, when he saw Louis XVIII, said: «Ah! there you are, you pig! So it was you who took away the pension that I had given to that povera Grassini whom I loved so much!» E di fatto,—she continued, turning to me,—isn't it a horror... me not being able to earn anything anymore, etc...”

— Cristina Trivulzio di Belgioioso (1850). Souvenirs Dans L'Exil

[opera-ghosts]

This is a small box packaging for sweeties ca. 1920 from Italy. A rare to find item. On this you see the portrait from the Opera Diva Giuseppina Grassini (1773-1850). Take a look on her live that was really special.

[widvile-blog]

Giuseppina Grassini (18 April 1773 - 3 January 1850)

[napoleondidthat]

                                      Giuseppina Maria Camilla Grassini

                                                    Italian Contralto

                                   Mistress to First Consul Bonaparte

                                    (April 18, 1773 – January 3, 1850)

[napoleondidthat]

                              Giuseppina Maria Camilla Grassini                                 (April 18, 1773 – April 18, 2016)                                          Happy 243rd birthday! **Mistress to Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington**

[napoleondidthat]

                                 Giuseppina Maria Camilla Grassini

                                               Italian Contralto

                                  (April 18, 1773 – January 3, 1850)

**Mistress to Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington**