venerdì 15 aprile 2016

Victorian Age cosmetics.



L'umiltà e la semplicità sono le due vere sorgenti della bellezza.

Johann Winckelmann
( archeologo, storico dell'arte ed erudito del XVIII° secolo, 1717 - 1768 )




 Euphemia White Van Rensselaer by George Peter Alexander Healy (1813 - 1894), detail




E cosa vi era di più bello, nell'epoca Vittoriana, del volto di una fanciulla scevro di trucco alcuno ?

Un viso era bello se era naturale, semplice, senza alcun artefatto che potesse alterarne i lineamenti ... 
Se vi era chi si colorava un po' le guance, chi si arrotolava la punta delle ciglia con piccoli ferri arroventati, cosa che le rendeva anche più scure, il trucco era considerato un segno di volgarità che per nulla si addiceva ad una donna elegante, rispettabile e discreta, ragion per cui ombretti con cui colorare le palpebre, pomate per le labbra ed altri prodotti cosmetici, in un'epoca il cui il puritanesimo regnava sovrano, erano considerati strumenti del diavolo degni solo delle donne di malaffare, di ballerine, attrici e prostitute, anche se va ricordato che è proprio durante questo periodo che nacquero le prime case cosmetiche parigine ed americane che cominciarono a produrre creme per il viso e prodotti di bellezza su larga scala ( dovete sapere che i primi rossetti furono introdotti nel 1828 da Guerlain in Francia, ma l'uso di tali ausili cosmetici in Inghilterra durante l'era Vittoriana divenne sempre più discreto ).

Perciò persino il pallore del viso, soprattutto durante il Romanticismo, era apprezzato, ed addirittura enfatizzato coprendolo con polvere bianca ed accentuandone l'effetto sottolineando le vene di colore blu, così come il languore dello sguardo, favorito, come già detto altrove, dall'utilizzo della belladonna che dilatava le pupille e rendeva gli occhi lucidi, ossia conferiva quell'aspetto languido che aderiva appieno all'ideale di bellezza dettato dall'epoca, anche se con il tempo procurava effetti collaterali devastanti quali cecità e paralisi. ... ebbene sì, allora si anelava alla bellezza naturale e solo pochi artifici era consentiti: si consigliava alle giovani fanciulle di bere aceto per schiarire la pelle del viso o di utilizzare un preparato casalingo a base di oppio che, ahimè, dall'epidermide passava ai capillari venosi e quindi entrava in circolo nel sangue ....


Woman With a Dove, Charles Joshua Chaplin (1825 – 1891)



" Sophia, in your white clothes with your pale skin and diet of mlk and bread, suspended in your hamock, you're like a dove, like the very doves about which you wrote.
How do you calm me so ?"


~ * ~


"Sophia, nei tuoi candidi abiti, con il tuo incarnato pallido e la tua dieta di pane e latte, sostenuta dalla tua amaca, mi sembri una colomba, come quelle di cui scrivesti.
Come puoi riuscire a placarmi così ?"


Erika Robuck, THE HOUSE OF HAWTHORNE, New American library, 2015, pg.100



In Europa ed in America le Ladies vittoriane utilizzavano ancora l'ossido di piombo ed il sotto-nitrato di bismuto come polveri sbiancanti per il viso, ma con l'avvento dell'illuminazione a gas, il primo diventava giallo ed il secondo grigio. Pertanto in America intorno al 1865 entrambi furono sostituiti dall'ossido di zinco che è ancora usato oggi, essendo molto meno tossico di quanto lo fossero i composti a base di piombo o bismuto, anche se tutte queste sostanze chimiche producevano gravi danni alla salute, nel lungo termine. 
Il primo cosmetico venduto su larga scala negli Stati Uniti fu il talco (silicato di magnesio), convenientemente profumato e venduto in lattina e veniva utilizzato non solo sul viso come cipria, ma anche su tutto il corpo.

Era convinzione diffusa che fosse il sole il maggior responsabile dell'invecchiamento cutaneo, per cui quanto di meglio le Ladies, già da ragazzine, potessero fare per la propria bellezza era schermarsi il volto con parasoli e cappelli a falde ( i così detti POKE BONNETS di cui ebbi occasione di parlarvi nei seguenti posts: Regency Easter Bonnets and the Vanity Fair. e CIVIL WAR FASHION: Spoon Bonnets and Caps. e le mani, soggette in tarda età a coprirsi di macchie, con l'utilizzo di guanti, sempre intonati al capo indossato, ovviamente !


Euphemia White Van Rensselaer by George Peter Alexander Healy (1813 - 1894), detail




Per cercare di nascondere le proprie imperfezioni e mostrare un viso fresco, una pelle di porcellana e le guance rosee, le Ladies vittoriane cominciarono perciò a rivolgersi a rimedi e prodotti ricavati dalla natura; i giardini o gli orti domestici fornivano tutto il necessario: lavanda, rose e gigli per 'eau de parfum', mandorle da cui estrarre l'olio, cera per amalgamare i preparati e ottenere creme nutrienti, con l'aggiunta di succo di limone, bianchi d'uovo o panna e zucchero se si voleva creare delle creme esfolianti oppure purea di cetriolo per le maschere.


Princess Elvina of Bavaria by Karl Wilhelm August Gampenrieder (1860 - 1927 )




Poiché costrette a limitare l'uso dei cosmetici, costoro concentrarono la propria ambizione soprattutto sulla capigliatura che divenne lunga, fluente, raccolta ed acconciata nei modi più fantasiosi possibili ( vedi: Le acconciature vittoriane: l'importanza dei capelli femminili nell'immaginario collettivo.), ma soprattutto profumata per tramite di unguenti, pomate e tinture. Lo studio degli oli essenziali ricevette all'epoca un notevole impulso dalla classificazione botanica delle piante ed il loro uso crebbe grazie anche alla nascita delle fabbriche in grado di distillarli: nuovi distintivi aromi vennero prodotti da profumieri creativi e numerosi saponi medicati vennero inoltre introdotti sul mercato, sia per uso igienico che cosmetico.

Mi preme concludere questo mio scritto rendendovi nota più nel dettaglio l'identità della giovane donna ritratta nel dipinto che ho scelto come emblematico della semplicità vittoriana: Euphemia White Van Rensselaer.
Euphemia era la terza degli otto figli di Stephen Van Rensselaer III e della sua seconda moglie, Cornelia Paterson Van Rensselaer (figlia di un ex governatore del New Jersey). I Van Rensselaers furono i primi proprietari terrieri dello stato di New York: Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1586-1643), uno dei 'Patroons' - proprietari terrieri - originariamente olandese, fondò Rensselaerswyck nella zona di Albany. Stephen si suppone sia il decimo americano più ricco americano nella storia, secondo la rivista Fortune, avendo egli ereditato la più estesa tenuta, al momento della morte del padre, presso New York.

Euphemia era inoltre imparentata con i Schuyler, i Westerlo, i Livingston, i Ten Broeck, altre famiglie la cui ricchezza ed il cui prestigio erano rinomati da lunga data.
Perciò questa lady non poteva che essere al top della moda del tempo in ogni suo dettaglio
... Dopotutto è altresì vero che i dipinti sono come dei libri aperti su di un mondo del quale non facevamo parte, ma che ci viene porto in ogni suo delizioso particolare.


Considerandolo una sorta di prosieguo di questo post, vi rimando a quello in cui tratterò nello specifico delle ricette di bellezza attinte dai libri vittoriani utilizzati dalle Ladies del tempo, sempre che si di vostro interesse ...


Vi abbraccio con tutto il mio affetto, 

a presto 













FONTI BIBLIOGRAFICHE:


Arnold James Cooley,  A cyclopaedia of six thousand practical receipts, and collateral information in the arts manufactures, and trades including medicine, pharmacy, and domestic economy. Designed as a compendious book of reference for the manufacturer, tradesman, amateur, and heads of families, Published: (1851) 










Humility and simplicity are the two true sources of beauty.

Johann Winckelmann
 ( archaeologist, art historian and erudite of the XVIIIth century, 1717 - 1768 )






- picture 1 -  Euphemia White Van Rensselaer by George Peter Alexander Healy (1813 - 1894), detail





And what was most beautiful, during the Victorian era, than a girl's face devoid of any kind of embellishment ?

A face was nice if it was natural, simple, without any artifact that could alter its features ...
If there was who colored a little her cheeks with rouge, who rolled the tip of her lashes with small red-hot irons, which made them also even darker, the make-up was considered a sign of vulgarity that was suitable to an elegant, respectable and discreet woman at all, that's why eye shadow with which color the eyelids, lip ointments and other cosmetic products, in an age when puritanism reigned sovereign, were considered devil's tools worthy only of, dancers, actresses and prostitutes, although it should be noted that it is just this period that gave birth to the first Parisian and American cosmetic companies that began to produce face creams and beauty products on a large scale. (You should know that the first lipsticks were introduced in 1828 by Guerlain in France, but the use of such cosmetic aids in England during the Victorian era became increasingly discreet).

So even the facial pallor, especially during the Romanticism, was appreciated, and, furthermore making it more notable by covering the face with white powder and accentuating the effect emphasizing the blue veins, as well as the languor of the gaze, favorite, as already mentioned above, by using the deadly nightshade, which dilated pupils and made shiny eyes, giving  that languid look which fully adhered to the ideal of beauty dictated by the fashion of the age, although, with time it procured devastating effects such as blindness and paralysis. ... Yes, then they yearned to the natural beauty and only a few artifices were allowed: they advised young girls to drink vinegar to lighten their skin or to use a homemade preparation of opium which, alas, by the epidermis passed to the venous capillaries and then entered the bloodstream ....





- picture 2 - Woman With a Dove, Charles Joshua Chaplin (1825 – 1891)




" Sophia, in your white clothes with your pale skin and diet of mlk and bread, suspended in your hamock, you're like a dove, like the very doves about which you wrote.
How do you calm me so ?"


Erika Robuck, THE HOUSE OF HAWTHORNE, New American library, 2015, pg.100



In Europe and America Victorian Ladies still used lead oxide and sub-bismuth nitrate as bleaching powders for the face, but with the advent of gas lighting, the first became yellow and the second gray, therefore in America, around 1865, both were replaced by the oxide of zinc which is still used today, being much less toxic than were the compounds of lead or bismuth, even if all these chemical substances produced serious damages to health, in long term.

The first large-scale cosmetics sold in the United States was the talc ( magnesium silicate ), conveniently perfumed and sold in cans and was used not only on the face as a 'whitening' powder, but also on the whole body.

It was widely believed that the sun was the most responsible for skin aging, so the best that Ladies, already as girls, could do for their beauty was to shield their faces with parasols and pitched hats the so-called POKE BONNETS which I talked you about in the following posts:
 Regency Easter Bonnets and the Vanity Fair. and CIVIL WAR FASHION: Spoon Bonnets and Caps. ) and their hands, subject in old age to be covered with spots, with the use of gloves, always attuned to the garment worn, of course!




- picture 3 - Euphemia White Van Rensselaer by George Peter Alexander Healy (1813 - 1894), detail




To try to hide their imperfections and show a fresh face, a porcelain skin and rosy cheeks, the Victorian Ladies, therefore, began to seek remedies and products derived from nature; the gardens and the home gardens provided everything they need: lavender, roses and lilies for 'eau de parfum', almonds from which to extract the oil, wax to mix preparations and get nourishing creams with the addition of lemon juice, egg whites or cream and sugar if they wanted to create exfoliating creams or mashed cucumber useful for the masks.




- picture 4 - Princess Elvina of Bavaria by Karl Wilhelm August Gampenrieder (1860 - 1927 )




Since forced to limit the use of cosmetics, they focused  their ambition especially on the hair which became long and  flowing, colleced and coiffed in the most imaginative ways ( as for this topic, you may read: Victorian hairstyles: the importance of female hair in the collective imagination. ), but above all parfumed by using scented ointments, salves and tinctures. The study of essential oils at the time received a major boost from the botanical classification of plants and their use grew also thanks to the birth of factories able to distill them: new distinctive flavors were produced by creative perfumers and many medicated soaps were also introduced to the market, both for hygienic and for cosmetic use.

I wish to conclude this written of mine by letting you know more details about the identity of the young woman portrayed in the painting that I have chosen as emblematic of the Victorian simplicity: Euphemia White Van Rensselaer.
Euphemia was the third of eight children of Stephen Van Rensselaer III and his second wife, Cornelia Van Rensselaer Patersondaughter of a former governor of New Jersey ). The Van Rensselaers were the first landowners of the state of New York: Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1586-1643), one of the 'Patroons' - landowners - originally Dutch, founded Rensselaerswyck in the Albany area. Stephen is supposedly to be the tenth amongst the most wealthy American in history, according to Fortune magazine, since he had inherited the largest estate in New York, at the time of his father's death.

Euphemia was also related to the Schuylers, the Westerlos, the Livingstons, the Ten Broeck, other families whose wealth and whose prestige was known for a long time.
So this lady could for sure be at the top of the fashion of the time in every detail ... After all, it is also true that paintings are like books open on a world which we were not part of, but which is shown us in every delightful detail of its.

Considering it a kind of continuation of this post, I refer you to a next one in which I will deal with beauty recipes drawn from the Victorian books used by the Ladies of the time, in the hope that you're interested in this topic ...


I embrace you all with all my love

see you soon 











BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE:


Arnold James Cooley, A cyclopaedia of six thousand practical receipts, and collateral information in the arts manufactures, and trades including medicine, pharmacy, and domestic economy. Designed as a compendious book of reference for the manufacturer, tradesman, amateur, and heads of families, Published: (1851) 





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87 commenti:

  1. Daniela, è bellissimo questo post; quante informazioni interessanti.
    Ti abbraccio e ti auguro un sereno fine settimana

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Manu
      carissima, le tue parole illuminano questa mia mattinata, grazie, grazie di cuore !

      Contraccambio tanto caramente il tuo abbraccio per augurare anche a te un weekend prospero di gioia e di letizia,
      possa il sole splendere su questi giorni a riscaldare il tuo cuore ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  2. queste foto sono bellissime....
    un abbraccio simona:)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ simona
      grazie come sempre, dolcissima amica !

      Ti auguro uno splendido weekend di primavera,
      con tanta riconoscenza ed affetto ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  3. Risposte
    1. @ shorty bear
      you're most welcome, dear friend, thank you for taking the time to visit !

      Enjoy your Saturday, may it bring you much love and joy ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  4. Dolce Daniela grazie per questi post così ricchi di notizie dettagliate di un tempo lontano ma tanto vicino ai nostri cuori romantici. Ti auguro un fine settimana gioioso e ti abbraccio forte forte Lory

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lory
      mia dolce, graziosa amica, ti ringrazio per le parole sempre così delicate che vanno dritte al cuore !

      Che tuo weekend si prodigo di serenità anche per te, te lo auguro con tutto il mio affetto e la mia stima,
      un bacio grande a te ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  5. A very enchanting post, dear Daniela. I love the Victorian era. I hope your weekend will be filled with joy and love!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      wonderful friend of mine, thank you for gracing my blog today with your presence and your so lovely words of appreciation !

      With much love and so dear hugs I wish you too a most wonderful, blessed end of your week,
      thinking of you ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  6. Hello Dany, what a great post. I love the beautiful images, the ladies are lovely. My favorite is the woman with the dove. I do not wear makeup, I seem to be allergic to everything. It is interesting what the victorian woman used for cosmetics and for their hair. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your weekend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ eileeninmd
      I also love Charles Joshua Chaplin, the painter of the 'Woman with the dove', I'd love to dedicate a post to his art as soon as possible, but topics are too many !

      So grateful to you for your beautiful words filling my heart with gladness, my lovely, I'm sending love and hugs for wishing you a blessed weekend, with so much thankfulness and joy ❥

      Elimina
  7. Dany,thank you for yet another beautiful and informative post! Thank you and have a grand weekend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Cathy
      I'm always delighted to have you here, my lovely lady, it is I who have to thank you !

      Sending blessings of joy on the end of your week, sweetie,
      ஜ with much gratitude ஜ

      Elimina
  8. Delizioso anche questo tuo post, cara Daniela. E che splendidi ritratti! Ti abbraccio augurandoti un buon fine settimana, qui finalmente di sole e piena primavera.
    Susanna

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Susanna
      sono davvero lieta che tu abbia gradito la lettura di questo mio ultimo post ... pensa, è già il duecentesimo, ancora non ci credo !

      Che il tuo weekend ti sorrida di gioia, carissima,
      te lo auguro con un forte, caloroso abbraccio,
      colmo di gioia e di riconoscenza ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  9. This was SO interesting, dear Dany! To think of all of the things those ladies did to look pretty! My, I didn't realize so much of it was hazardous to their health. You share so many wonderful nuggets of information here...and the pictures are so lovely. God bless you abundantly, sweet friend. :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Cheryl
      what a blessing to have you here, dearie !
      Your little package is ready, but on Saturday the post offices are closed here, so I have to postpone its sending to next week, I'm so sorry for this delay but I'm having such busy weeks, lately !

      Sure of your understanding I wish you a most blessed end of the week, filled with Joy and Love,
      with heartfelt gratitude ༺❀༻

      Elimina
  10. Bellissime le donne vittoriane! La loro era una bellezza naturale, elegante, semplice e non artefatta come la beltà ( bruttezza) artificiale che dilaga al giorno d'oggi! Dolce week end
    Bacioni Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Alessandra
      allora non vi era davvero nulla di artefatto, hai ragione, ed ognuna aveva il proprio volto, i propri lineamenti e la propria identità, mentre oggi la chirurgia plastica sembra massificare coloro che se lo possono permettere anche da un punto di vista estetico ... anche se nemmeno si conoscono tra loro sembrano tutte parenti, gli interventi volti ad appianare le rughe le rendono tutte simili e ... spesso deformano, hai ragione !( Mi hai fatto sorridere, perché molto spesso perseguendo un ideale di bellezza oggi tante donne davvero s'imbruttiscono !)

      Quanto ti sono grata per queste tue visite e per le tue parole di apprezzamento, mia cara !

      Con il cuore colmo di gioia ti auguro un weekend prodigo di serenità, di sole, di fiori ... grazie, sempre ✿⋰⋱✿

      Elimina
  11. Cara Daniela, mi sento molto donna vittoriana!Non amo i trucco e mi piace la semplicità.Adoro il talco e i profumi delicati a base di fiori e di erbe!Bellissimo questo post!Un bacione,Rosetta

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Rosetta
      dolcissima amica, tu sei davvero una Lady a tutto tondo, non solo nei modi e nell'animo !
      Confesso che anche io non amo appesantirmi il volto, mi sembrerebbe di mascherarmi per qualche party carnevalesco, ed amo le essenza naturali, sanno di pulito e di ... buono ... abbiamo scoperto un'altra cosa che ci accomuna, mia cara !

      Ti abbraccio con affetto e gratitudine augurandoti un weekend all'insegna della spensieratezza e del relax,
      grazie come sempre per essermi accanto con il cuore ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  12. Ciao Dany, chissà perché, mi vien da chiedere dopo aver letto il tuo interessante post, noi esser umani dobbiamo per forza seguire una moda? Beh, non tutti per fortuna! Trovo bellissime le foto che hai scelto. Un abbraccio e una domenica rilassante ti auguro di tutto 💗

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ WOODY
      sai che le tue parole mi fanno riflettere ... forse il seguire una moda dà sicurezza, ovvero la certezza di essere accattivanti, belle ( perciò è indispensabile nell'adolescenza quando ancora non ci si sente ancora dotate di una propria identità ), quando, in realtà, la vera bellezza non risiede nella MODA, bensì nei MODI che non hanno età e non conoscono epoche storiche ... perdona il gioco di parole, ma mi è venuto spontaneo, te l'assicuro :) !

      Che il tuo fine settimana sia radioso, mia cara, adorabile amica, e che il sole della gioia scaldi il tuo cuore *♥*

      Elimina
  13. Such an interesting post dear Dany! I had no idea that opium was used as a cosmetic, and other dangerous ingredients, oh my! Always a joy to come here, and learn so much in history that I never knew. Hope you are having a lovely day my friend :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ SpucingUpIdaho
      my lovely, the joy is mine, believe me, while welcoming you here and reading your always beautiful words !

      May your weekend be blessed with joy, dearie,
      sending you gentle hugs and love ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  14. Dear Dany:
    This is amazing. I have never seen most of these pictures before. I love old Victorian pictures!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Bernideen
      wondrous friend of mine, actually these paintings are not so very famous, but I also do love them ... I know this love of yours which is linking us, Dearest One, even if we're so far away one from another ... that's the wonder of the web !

      Sending love and sweet thoughts on your weekend,
      may it be filled with joy and serenity ~ ♥∗✿∗♥

      Elimina
  15. Ciao! La verità vostro lavoro è bello!
    I love it! ogni dettaglio della storia passata mi affascina. Si noti che un anno fa cambiare la marca di cosmetici. Sviluppare una dermatite da contatto, sulla mia pelle. Ora posso solo il trucco, perché se lo faccio ottengo focolai di orticaria, ecc Utilizzare solo con parsimonia a volte rossetto, mascara e correttore. Leyerndo l'immissione sul 'pudore' in passato per quanto riguarda il trucco, è interessante conoscere tutti questi dettagli. Trucco considerato come il lavoro delle donne 'facile' o il modo in cui hanno usato chimici sbiancanti per la pelle, (come oggi) è increhible vedere come la storia ha Hido evoluzione. Grazie per il vostro lavoro, è davvero emozionante molte informazioni!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Rose
      è sempre una tale gioia averti qui con tutta la dolcezza che sempre rechi con te, mia carissima adorabile amica !

      Che questo nuovo giorno ti sorrida e che la settimana ventura sia prodiga di gioia per te,
      te lo auguro con tutto il cuore ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  16. It just fascinates me the lengths us women will go to in order to look a certain way.. and isn't it funny that at least here in America we went through a time that everyone wanted to have a nice tan, and back then they wanted to be as white as they could be, how times change and now people are realizing that sunning and tanning are not good for us. I love how the first two pictures portrayed such softness in the girls! Thanks for sharing an interesting post once again... Wishing you a most wonderful and blessed weekend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Connie
      you always brighten my day, wonderful friend, thank you for taking the time to visit ... and your words of interest, well, they never fail to fill my heart with such a gladness, dearie !

      The most beautiful fashion we can follow, in my opinion, is to be ourselves ... fashion always changes during the time, just in order to obey to several laws, first of all of comercial order, but we do remain we, if we have an identity of ours !

      Sending blessings on your Lord's Day, my esteemed lady,
      may it be full of true Joy ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  17. OH dear, I have a feeling that my comment didn't post so I'll try again and forgive me if it is redundant. I have to say this is just fascinating -- and I equally look forward to your next post. It's interesting to consider all the things we women do to our faces and bodies in an effort to make them "better"--and have since Egyptian times! I'm just glad the regulations for things we apply to our faces are more stringent than they were in the Victorian era -- if there were any at all!

    My great-grandfather was an apothecary and confectioner and in his old recipe book in his scrawled hand I have recipes for many poultices -- and even opium lozenges. A different time!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanie
      what a precious gift you've inherited by your great-grandfather !
      Actually, once opium was considered something like a 'cure-all', and you probably can read it as an ingredient in so many recipes written by your great-grandfather's hand; just in recent times they've discovered the addiction it generates and the damages it creates, for sure worse and many more than the benefits it gives !

      Hope you're having a great weekend, I'm sending blessings on your Sunday and on your new week ahead,
      with so much gratitude ⊰✽♥✽⊱

      Elimina
  18. They were correct about the sun aging the skin. And we still have toxins in cosmetics!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      you're right for both the things you wrote in your comment, darling !
      We can see people so addicted with sun in their youth becoming old precociously, and as for the creams we may use nowadays, my delicate skin talks to me clearly about what they contain, alas !

      Enjoy your day, today, Sweetest One, and the begin of your new week ahead,
      thinking of you with esteem and love ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  19. Thanks for sharing a most interesting post, Dany, I didn't know about the opium preparation and drinking vinegar ... oh my !
    Looking forward to your next post !
    Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friend !
    Hugs,
    Sylvia

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sylvia
      I'm so overjoyed to have revealed you something new, dearie, and to read your amusement in your words, as well !

      Hope you're having a lovely Sunday, I wish you all my best for the days to come, sending you love and dear hugs ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  20. The Woman with a Dove is breathtakingly beautiful!
    Women have wanted to improve their beauty since ancient times - to please men :) Luckily today we have more personal freedom concerning our looks and not as strict rules as for eg in the Victorian era.
    I wish you a lovely Sunday dear Dany ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ riitta
      I also love that painting and the delicacy it expresses, to me is the symbol of the femininity in absolute !

      May your day be filled with so many flowers and warmed with the Spring sun, marvelous friend of mine, wishing you so much love
      for you week to come ♥∗✿≫♥≪✿∗♥

      Elimina
  21. Buonasera DAniela, è con stupore e piacere che scopro il suo blog, interessante, mai banale, con immagini ispirate. E' un balsamo per gli occhi e il cuore, in questi tempi travagliati e convulsi.
    Anna Maria

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Anna Maria
      il piacere è il mio, mi creda, accoglierla a ~ My little old world ~ è una vera gioia !

      Che la sua domenica sia illuminata dal sole della gioia, glielo auguro di cuore ... grazie ~ ❤*❤

      Elimina
  22. Dany, another beautiful post with such pretty and charming photographs. The Victorian women went through a lot to look beautiful but they were smart to always cover and shade their faces. In my younger years, I always thought the best remedy for a pretty face was sunshine. A few wrinkles to show for it now!..Happy weekend my friend..Judy

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Judy
      they say that some lines make women more interesting, don't they {{smiles}}?
      Of course, a little of tan gives a face a more healthy look, but especially nowadays the sun is stronger and hotter year after year, we can feel it, for sure it's more dangerous than during the Victorian age !

      Enjoy your Sunday, darling, lovely friend of mine,
      sending dear love to you ಌ❀ಌ

      Elimina
  23. This was again such a wonderful post, I'm so glad I found your blog Dany, it's of an outstanding beauty. I was delighted by Princess Elvina of Bavaria, touching the great Crinum giganteum (which is so difficult to grow here), I love her dress and the flowers..... Then the painting of the Woman with a Dove, fascinating too. I can look for hours at this.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Janneke
      dear and lovable friend, your words of enjoyment mean so much to me, you cannot imagine the gladness they bring to my heart !

      Hope your week is off to a great start, I wish you a wonderful day, today and most wonderful days to come,
      with much, so much heartfelt thankfulness ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  24. meraviglioso...bellissime le foto e tutto il resto;)
    un abbraccio e buona domenica
    simona:)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ simona
      buongiorno mia cara e felice settimana a te !
      Ti sono immensamente grata per riuscire a trovare il tempo per farmi visita, dolcissima, lo apprezzo molto !

      Con un grande bacio ti auguro una splendida giornata di primavera ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  25. Daniela grazie per aver ricambiato la visita, ho provveduto ad aggiungere la casella follower (sinceramente me ne ero proprio scordata...). In effetti è stata una bella domenica, ricambio augurandole un buon inizio di settimana (ne abbiamo tutti bisogno).
    A presto.
    Anna Maria

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Anna Maria
      sono io a doverla ringraziare, ora mi è possibile seguirla !
      Vengo subito a farle visita e ad iscrivermi, con immenso piacere e gioia sincera !

      Le auguro un sereno prosieguo di settimana,
      ஜ con sentita gratitudine ஜ

      Elimina
  26. I'd be lost without my "devil's tools!" :-)
    What a wonderful post, Dany!
    Have a beautiful week ahead, sweet friend. xo.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lisa
      you truly put a smile on my face, actually you made me laugh heartily !

      Enjoy your day, wonderful friend of mine, and may the remainder of your week be joyous to you
      sending hugs and love ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  27. Risposte
    1. @ Terri
      I'ts my pleasure, sweet friend, you're always most welcome !

      I wish you a wonderful day, today and so beautiful days to come, with sincere gratitude ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  28. Lovely post and images, Dany. I've heard that cosmetics contain very powerful toxins and do hope everyone reads the ingredients if they use them. I don't use them as I prefer the truth whether it's plain or fancy. :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ magnoliasntea
      I simply love you, my friend !
      I'm always delighted by having you here, sweetie, it's truly a joy to me !

      Hope your week just begun is filled with love and joy,
      I'm sending blessings to you ❥

      Elimina
  29. A quante cose, anche rischiose, si sono poste le donne vittoriane, con discrezione, perchè non si dovesse sapere visto che si poteva passare anche per donne di malaffare. Sono rimasta allibita per quella sorta di "collirio" per abbellire lo sguardo, che rischiava di portarle alla cecità o paralisi. Se ci pensiamo, anche ai nostri tempi ci sono donne che si sottopongono a trattamenti altamente rischiosi. Resto in attesa delle ricette di bellezza vittoriane, mi hai tanto incuriosita, chissà mai se potranno essere in qualche modo attuali. Meravigliosa fonte di sapere TU. Un abbraccio e buona settimana. Paola

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Paola
      quasi come seguendo una massima del tipo "La bellezza ad ogni costo" che tutt'ora regna sovrana, le donne di ogni tempo si sono sottoposte a qualsiasi tipo di trattamento pur di apparire migliori e catturare e conquistare il plauso del pubblico maschile, ovviamente seguendo i canoni dettati dalla moda del tempo, ignare o talvolta noncuranti dei rischi che essi comportavano ... ma una perfetta e rispettabile Victorian Lady poteva solamente usare creme - che presto vi dirò come erano composte o come potevano essere preparate in casa - senza imbellettarsi, ovviamente, con il rischio di perdere credito e stima da parte di chiunque !
      Sei sempre tanto, troppo generosa con me, carissima, le tue parole di elogio quasi mi mettono a disagio ...

      Ti abbraccio anche io, con stima ed affetto sincero, dolce amica mia, augurandoti una settimana prodiga di serenità e di letizia ✿≫∗♥∗≪✿

      Elimina
  30. Creative post and wonderful photography ~ all very creative ~

    Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

    ps. Behind in my comment due to surgery

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Carol
      thank you for gracing my blog today, sweetest friend of mine, your words really fill my heart !

      I wish you too a most wonderful week ever, dearie,
      sending blessings of joy to you ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  31. That nightshade trick is quite scary, but we still do things like this to ourselves. Poisoning our skin with botox, and undergoing life threatening surgeries. The price we pay for beauty!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Andrea
      precious friend of mine, you're so right !

      Always so overjoyed to have you here, I'm sending dear love and gentle hugs to you, Dearest One,
      with sincere gratitude ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  32. such a pretty post with pretty images...of course, i couldn't read a word of what was written but it was all very beautiful

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ bj
      oh, my darling friend, don't tell me so !
      If you scroll down the page, and you do it for writing your comment, you can find my translation in English, just think that most of my followers are English speaking !

      Hope you're having a lovely day, I'm sending you sincere love,
      with heartfelt thankfulness ✥*✥

      Elimina
  33. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity! It's amazing what we do to our bodies in the name of beauty, is it not, my friend ? To be sure, so many of these potions caused great distress over time, even death. And yet we still use talc (proven to cause cancer) and other metals in our cosmetics today. We should learn from this interesting history you have so carefully (and beautifully) presented, and not repeat it. Europe is much better about these things, I think, than the US. I look forward to your next installment, my dearest!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ June
      thank you for brighten my day with your presence here and with your words, of interest and of enjoyment, as well ... you think that in Europe our cosmetics are less harmful than in the States ... actually I don't know it, what's sure is that the less we use them the better it is !

      I embrace you with so much love and thankfulness, my admired and adored friend, sending blessings of joy across the pond ⊰♥*♥⊱

      Elimina
  34. Dearest Dany, HELLO! This post is so perfect on so many levels for me.

    Humility and simplicity are two virtues that keep repeating themselves in my life. My mother was a self-proclaimed "simple person" and was one of the most humble women I've known. As I grow close to the age when she died, I realize that all I want is to be like her. And I even notice that my use of eye make-up has declined, and all I wear is lipstick. But it's the inside of me that is radiating who I really am. Such interesting history here to bring us back to where we are now: to rethink our beauty from the inside.

    Dearest Dany, thank you so much for your visit to my post! Anita

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Anita
      your sensitiveness and your sweet, good heart is so touching to me, your words filled with love and humility are so precious and talk about the invaluable inner world which drives you every day, that's the reason why I do admire and esteem you, you're as precious as a jem ... indeed, even more, much more, God bless you !

      Sending you love, hugs and smiles,
      hope your week is full with so much gladness and serenity, my Lovely, Wonderful Lady ಌ❀ಌ

      Elimina
  35. Hello, How interesting, I love a bit of sunshine to put some color in my cheeks. The photos were so lovely. I also think cosmetics are very nice to had a bit of pretty to our faces, and I love a nice perfume to smell nice. Yes, what was thought to be pretty is so different now days.
    Blessings, Roxy

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Roxy
      a discreet tan and embellishment are appropriate to our times even if condemned then, my Beautiful friend !

      Hope your week is off to a lovely start, I wish you much love for your days to come ... oh, I was forgetting to say that this morning I sent you my package with your Giveaway,
      I'm emailing you, darling ஐღஐ

      Elimina
  36. My dearest Dany, what a fascinating post! Once again, you have added another one to my favorites {{smiles}}

    It's truly astounding to see what we will do all in the name of "beauty." Some of it is quite sad, isn't it?

    Thank you for making my day brighter with your lovely posts and your sweet self. Thinking of you! Love and hugs, my friend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Stephanie
      here's my kindred soul !
      My lovely, it is I who have to thank you, for so, so many things, first of all for the grace, the light of joy and of love you always share, you're truly so very precious to me !

      Sending blessings of joy on your week just begun, dearie,
      thinking of you with sincere gratitude and deep love ❥

      Elimina
  37. I was going to mention the botox trend as well - it seems that women will still resort to deadly solutions in the search of ideal beauty.
    Such an interesting post!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Pondside
      I'm so grateful to you for being here and for your words of interest, as well, my lovely friend !

      With so much thankfulness I wish you all my best for your new week, sending blessings to you ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  38. Ciao carissima amica!
    Solo poche parole per descrivere le mie emozioni leggendo questo bellissimo post.
    La bellezza, la "semplice" e coraggiosa creatività delle donne di un tempo, merita una speciale attenzione.Un argomento piacevole che ha la caratteristica di fissarsi nel cuore come un profumo composto da essenze uniche dal tono raffinato. Grazie!
    Lieta giornata e un caro saluto.
    La tua amica Luci@

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Luci@
      grazie per la delicatezza del tuo animo che sempre trova espressione nella raffinata ricercatezza delle parole che sempre mi dedichi, grazie di cuore !

      Che la tua giornata sia prodiga di gioia, preziosa e stimata amica, e che il prosieguo della settimana rechi solo serenità con sé *♥*

      Elimina
  39. @ Nives
    carissima, la tua cara zia era nata in un'epoca che era di alcuni anni posteriore a quella vittoriana, ma era una perfetta Lady appartenente ancora all'era che l'aveva preceduta, che dono che aveva !

    Ti abbraccio con il cuore augurandoti una splendida giornata, preziosa amica mia,
    che il sole ti sorrida di gioia ⊰✽*✽⊱

    RispondiElimina
  40. Liebe Daniela,
    was für ein schöner und aus Sicht unserer Damenwelt, interessanter Post.
    Meine Großmutter sprach noch von der "vornehmen Blässe" und hielt mich als Kind von der Sonne fern. In Zeiten von Hautkrebs wohl nicht verkehrt.
    Ja "Bella Donna", das Gift der Tollkirsche wurde oft eingesetzt um die Pupillen zu vergrößern um so der Männerwelt eine innere Erregtheit vorzutäuschen. Mein Gott, hatten sie nicht Angst eventuell zu erblinden?
    Die Haare von Sisi wurden nur alle paar Wochen, Monate gewaschen. Wie geht so etwas? Die müssen doch gestunken haben, oder. Ich wasche meine Haare täglich!
    Ihre Schwiegermutter Sophie soll Sisi angehalten haben, ihre Zähne besser zu pflegen, sie seien zu gelb. Haben wir jemals auf einem Foto Sisi´s Zähne gesehen?
    Auch heute ist Frauen ihre Schönheit wichtig. Schöne Haare, Zähne sind quasi ein Statussymbol und aufgrund der ästhetischen Chirurgie kann aus einem Entlein ein Schwan werden, um welchen Preis?
    Insofern hat sich doch gar nichts geändert, oder? Frauen wollen immer noch in erster Linie Männern gefallen. Früher wie heute.
    Ich liebe deine Posts liebe Dany und wünsche dir von Herzen eine schöne Frühlingswoche, deine Barbara

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Barbara
      adorable friend, what a wonderful comment !
      you're so right, women have always done as much as possible to please men, and Kaiserin Elisabeth arrived, as you wrote, never to smile in every photograph of portrait of Hers, already from early age, because it was the first thing that her mother-in-law said to her when she reached Vienna, for she had too ugly teeth !

      I'm so very grateful for your words of amusement, as well, and thanking you again and again, I wish you a most beautiful weekend ever,
      sending you love and dear hugs ༺❀༻

      Elimina
  41. Hi: I love the beautiful portraits you featured this post. They are my favorite things to collect. I especial love "Sophia", she is stunning. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Martha
      I so love to have you here, my Lovely Lady, with your words of amusement and your bright smile !

      May your weekend be blessed with joy and love, sweetie,
      sending you gentle hugs and thankfulness ⊰♥Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ♥⊱

      Elimina
  42. Hello sweet friend,

    I have missed my visits here. Your blog is always full of such beauty and endless information. The Victorian ladies had such an angelical complexion but to think that they used such toxic ingredients is frightening. Thank goodness we are so informed today.

    Your images are stunning Dani and thank you for your endless support and friendship. I am thankful for your kind heart.

    Hugs,

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Janet
      my wonderful friend, I also have been missing you so much, I was worried about you and your health, but you've lift my spirits up when I read on your last post that you were absent for you were overwhelmed by too many things to do, that was such a good news to me !

      Hope your week was busy but spent in serenity, I'm sending so many blessings of joy on your following days, dearie,
      thinking of you with love ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  43. I've heard of the Rennselaer family and fortune!

    How fashion has turned that sun tanned skin is now desired over pale. I am very fair and my skin is showing some signs of sun damage. I should have worn a sun bonnet in my youth ---smile!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte

    1. @ Pat
      if you have a delicate and clear skin, you're light haired and have light blue eyes - as I also have - the damages of the sun are inevitable, we've such a strong sun nowadays, but when we were young girls we all loved to have a beautiful, healthy tan on our face and didn't think about sun bonets, indeed !
      ... so much times have changed since the Victorian Age !

      Sending much love to you, dearie,
      enjoy your day in your wonderful Colorado ∗✿≫♥≪✿∗

      Elimina
  44. Lovely images! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. My thrift store addiction
      It is I who thank you since you truly bless my day and make my heart sing!
      Hugs coming your way •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.