Marie Stuart 1860s

This is a photograph by Pierre-Louis Pierson, called Marie Stuart. Pierson was known for photographing Virginia Oldoini, the Countess of Castiglione, who was notorious for her beauty and eccentric poses. In this image, the Countess embodies Mary, Queen of Scots, not through historical accuracy, but through a constructed identity of European royalty which was a statement on power, gender, and the performance of identity. Consider how the Countess, an Italian noblewoman, appropriates the identity of a Scottish queen. She is swathed in a striped robe that evokes a regal dressing gown, rather than traditional royal garb. What does it mean to play with these established symbols of power? In these photographs, the Countess actively shaped her image, challenging traditional representations of women and developing her own narrative. It emphasizes how identity can be both a personal creation and a reflection of broader cultural narratives.