Courtesan Collection (#3)

Ancient Chinese emperor in a four-horse chariot accompanied by mandarins. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea
FLO4622264 Ancient Chinese emperor in a four-horse chariot accompanied by mandarins. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient

Princess of Lamballe (1749-1792), reign of Louis XVI, 1788. Maria Luisa of Savoy was lady in waiting to Marie
FLO4686205 Princess of Lamballe (1749-1792), reign of Louis XVI, 1788. Maria Luisa of Savoy was lady in waiting to Marie Antoinette, and one of the first victims of the Reign of Terror

Lady of the court, reign of Henry VII, England, 1480. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's "
FLO4656729 Lady of the court, reign of Henry VII, England, 1480. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female Costumes Historical, National and Dramatic in 200 Plates

Court dress, reign of King James II, circa 1687. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female
FLO4656523 Court dress, reign of King James II, circa 1687. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female Costumes Historical, National and Dramatic in 200 Plates

Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos aka Ninon de Lenclos and Ninon de Lanclos, 1620 - 1705
1000918 Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos aka Ninon de Lenclos and Ninon de Lanclos, 1620 - 1705. French author, courtesan, freethinker and patron of the arts

Cover of " Le Lire", Satirique en Colours, 1898_8_6: The cabin of Emilia (Emilienne d'Alencon)
ICA4839009 Cover of " Le Lire", Satirique en Colours, 1898_8_6: The cabin of Emilia (Emilienne d'Alencon, 1869-1946), beach of Marennes - Leisure

Daily life at the royal court of Versailles under the reign of king Louis XIV: reception of an ambassador
ELD4866505 Daily life at the royal court of Versailles under the reign of king Louis XIV: reception of an ambassador, beginning of the 18th century) Engraving from "18th century

Musical entertainment at the castle of Bellevue at the time of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson
ELD4934487 Musical entertainment at the castle of Bellevue at the time of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, Marquise of Pompadour (1721-1764) favorite of King Louis XV a Meudon

Costume of a lady, reign of Charles II, circa 1660. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female
FLO4655499 Costume of a lady, reign of Charles II, circa 1660. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female Costumes Historical, National and Dramatic in 200 Plates

The imperress. Sumptuously clothed and accompanied by her bridesmaids, the Impress is intercepted in her march by Death
FLO4675614 The imperress. Sumptuously clothed and accompanied by her bridesmaids, the Impress is intercepted in her march by Death incarnated in the character of an old ratatinee

Broker, reign of Henri III, 1580. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after a contemporary painting
FLO4685941 Broker, reign of Henri III, 1580. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after a contemporary painting from the Pauquet Brothers " Modes et Costumes Historique"

Courtesan, reign of Charles VIII, 1491. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after a contemporary work
FLO4685843 Courtesan, reign of Charles VIII, 1491. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after a contemporary work from the Pauquet Brothers " Modes et Costumes Historique"

Brokers, reign of Henri III, 1580. Handcoloured steel engraving by Polidor Pauquet after a contemporary painting
FLO4685932 Brokers, reign of Henri III, 1580. Handcoloured steel engraving by Polidor Pauquet after a contemporary painting from the Pauquet Brothers " Modes et Costumes Historique"

Lady of rank, England, reign of Edward III, 1350. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female
FLO4656103 Lady of rank, England, reign of Edward III, 1350. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female Costumes Historical, National and Dramatic in 200 Plates

Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy-Carignan, Princess de Lamballe (Marie Louise Therese de Savoie)
FLO4655858 Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy-Carignan, Princess de Lamballe (Marie Louise Therese de Savoie, dit Mademoiselle de Carignan ou princess de Lamballe lady of the court, France, 1786)

Lady of quality, reign of Louis XIV, 1692. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after Henri Bonnart
FLO4686057 Lady of quality, reign of Louis XIV, 1692. Handcoloured steel engraving by Hippolyte Pauquet after Henri Bonnart (1642-1711)

Gabrielle d'Estrees, duchess of Beaufort, mistress of King Henry IV of France, 1573-1599
FLO4678149 Gabrielle d'Estrees, duchess of Beaufort, mistress of King Henry IV of France, 1573-1599. After a miniature oil painting

The ball of the Ardents, at the Hotel Saint Pol, Paris, 1393 (lithograph)
FLO4630694 The ball of the Ardents, at the Hotel Saint Pol, Paris, 1393 (lithograph); (add.info.: A wedding turns at the tragedie, when King Charles VI of France)

Lillie Langtry (born Emilie Charlotte le Breton - 1853-1929) only daughter of the Dean of Jersey
526509 Lillie Langtry (born Emilie Charlotte le Breton - 1853-1929) only daughter of the Dean of Jersey, she was called the Jersey Lily.; (add.info.: English society beauty and actress)

On the occasion of the wedding of a lady of Isabeau (Isabelle, Elisabeth) of Baviere, on January 28, 1393
ELD4835276 On the occasion of the wedding of a lady of Isabeau (Isabelle, Elisabeth) of Baviere, on January 28, 1393, King Charles VI of France disguised himself

Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues, Marquise de Verneuil, mistress of King Henry IV of France, 1579-1633
FLO4678150 Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues, Marquise de Verneuil, mistress of King Henry IV of France, 1579-1633. After a miniature oil painting

Portrait of Louise de La Fayette (1618-1665) (French broker and close friend of King Louis XIII Louise Angelique Motier)
ELD4935440 Portrait of Louise de La Fayette (1618-1665) (French broker and close friend of King Louis XIII Louise Angelique Motier de la Fayette)

King of France Louis XIV (1638-1715) and Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise (Madame) of Maintenon (1634-1719)
ELD4892414 King of France Louis XIV (1638-1715) and Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise (Madame) of Maintenon (1634-1719) visiting the construction site of the castle of Marly around 1684

The last meeting between Marie Mancini and King Louis XIV before her departure to Brouage
ELD4900359 The last meeting between Marie Mancini and King Louis XIV before her departure to Brouage, exile arranged by Cardinal Mazarin to keep her away from the King

Portrait of Marion Delorme, beg of 20th century (chromolithograph)
PCT4280914 Portrait of Marion Delorme, beg of 20th century (chromolithograph); (add.info.: Portrait of Marion Delorme (Marie de Lon)

An orgiastic dinner at the time of the Regency, 19th century (engraving)
ELD4900008 An orgiastic dinner at the time of the Regency, 19th century (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: An orgiastic dinner at the time of the regency of Philippe II)

French author, courtesan, freethinker, and patron of the arts Ninon de Lenclos (l'enclos ou lanclos) (1620-1705)
ELD4934376 French author, courtesan, freethinker, and patron of the arts Ninon de Lenclos (l'enclos ou lanclos) (1620-1705) and her lover Louis de Mornay, the marquis de Villarceaux (1619-1691)

The Courtesan Hatsuito, 18th century. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
The Courtesan Hatsuito, 18th century

Bando Shuka as Hashimotoya Shiraito, 1852. Creator: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Bando Shuka as Hashimotoya Shiraito, 1852. Kabuki actor in the role of courtesan of the Hashimotoya Restaurant, holding up a gold coin (s)he has just taken from a paper wrapper

Yatsuhashi of Chumanjiya, 1831. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Yatsuhashi of Chumanjiya, 1831

Four Actors in the Roles of Natsume Shirosaburo, Saimenosuke, Katsuragi, and Kijin Omatsu, c1835

Courtesans in a Peony Garden, mid-19th century. Creator: Unknown
Courtesans in a Peony Garden, mid-19th century

Dancing Girls at a Court, c1850. Creator: Unknown
Dancing Girls at a Court, c1850

The Story of the Courtesan Jigokudayu and Priest Ikkyu, 1886. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Story of the Courtesan Jigokudayu and Priest Ikkyu, 1886. From A New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures

Wanting to Meet Someone: A Courtesan of the Kaei Period (1848-1853), 1888. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Wanting to Meet Someone: A Courtesan of the Kaei Period (1848-1853), 1888. From Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners

The Courtesan Hanamurasaki of Tamaya from the series Supreme Beauties of the Present Day, 1794

Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Series: Tour of the New Yoshiwara

Returning Sails of Akashi: Koimurasaki of the Tamaya, between c1814 and c1817. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Returning Sails of Akashi: Koimurasaki of the Tamaya, between c1814 and c1817. Series: Eight Views of Genji

The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Creator: Ikeda Eisen
The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Series: Seven Beauties of the Green Houses

Courtesans with Children, c1840. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Courtesans with Children, c1840

No. 3, Shizunoo, from the series An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans... 1860-61. Private Collection

No. 27, Tamagiku, from the series An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans... 1860-61. Private Collection

Courtesans on Procession from Ehon tokiwagusa (Eternal Flowers, A Picture Book.), 1730. Creator: Nishikawa Sukenobu
Courtesans on Procession from Ehon tokiwagusa (Eternal Flowers, A Picture Book.), 1730

Ofuji of Omiya and her Servant, 1856. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Ofuji of Omiya and her Servant, 1856. Man and Woman Playing Hanetsuki

The Courtesan Shinahara of Tsuruya with the Kamuro Shinobu, c1800. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
The Courtesan Shinahara of Tsuruya with the Kamuro Shinobu, c1800

Courtesan Shinohara from the House of Tsuruya, c1804. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
Courtesan Shinohara from the House of Tsuruya, c1804

Hana no Hito of Ogiya, 1809-1813. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Hana no Hito of Ogiya, 1809-1813

Courtesan with Kamuro and Small Boy, c1830. Creator: Ikeda Eisen
Courtesan with Kamuro and Small Boy, c1830

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"Unveiling the Enigmatic World of Courtesans: From Geishas to Parisian Beauties" Step into a captivating journey through time and culture as we explore the intriguing realm of courtesans. In Japan, the ethereal allure of geishas mesmerizes all who encounter them. With their graceful presence and traditional art forms like flower arranging, they embody elegance and mystique. Witness their unwavering commitment to honor with a bow to a samurai warrior during New Year celebrations. Meanwhile, in the heart of Paris on Champs-Elysees, lies The Paiva Mansion - an opulent sanctuary where courtesan Cora Pearl once reigned supreme. Her name echoes through history alongside other renowned figures like Agnes Willoughby and Catherine Walters, each leaving an indelible mark on society. Artists have immortalized these enchanting women throughout centuries; Reynolds' masterpiece "Cleopatra" portrays Kitty Fisher dissolving a pearl in her drink, symbolizing decadence and power. Massenet's opera "Thais" delves into the complex world of courtesans for the first time on stage. Yet not all stories are painted with such grandeur; some reveal glimpses of everyday life. A detail from "The Entry of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa into Arras" captures a moment when even royalty indulged in pleasures offered by these enigmatic women. A color engraving showcases a courtesan at play billiards during France's Second Empire - reminding us that they were not confined solely to lavish settings but also embraced ordinary pastimes. As we delve deeper into this multifaceted world, it becomes clear that being a courtesan was more than just selling one's body; it was about mastering seduction while maintaining an air of mystery. They embodied the age-old adage: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil - guarding secrets that could make or break reputations.