ArtMuse

She could be seen strutting through Venice in the dark of night, with nothing but a fur coat on, as she walked her two pet cheetahs. Once described “as beautiful as a black panther, and also as dangerous”, this mysterious woman was one of the wealthiest and most outlandish characters in all of the 20th century.In this episode we share the incredible life story of the Marchesa Luisa Casati, an Italian heiress who used her fortune to create a life of her wildest imagination. She was also one of the

Listen to Part Two of ArtMuse's episode on Lady Emma Hamilton.In Part One we explored Emma’s impoverished beginnings, how she became the mistress to Charles Greville, and her successful partnership with the painter George Romney. In Part Two we continue Emma's incredible story. In it we are taken from Marie Antoinette's prison cell, to the heart of the Napoleonic war, and finally back to England. We explore her steamy relationship with famed war general Horatio Nelson, and finally, her tragic end.In

Listen to Part One of ArtMuse’s episode on  Lady Emma Hamilton. Born into severe poverty, Emma Hamilton worked her way to eventually become England’s first female celebrity. Her life story is so unfathomable, that it almost sounds like a riveting work of fiction. In it, we are taken from the filthy streets of London’s back alleys, to England’s fashionable countryside, to the dazzling royal courts of Naples. Emma’s path crossed with some of the greatest names of eighteenth century history, from

Listen to Part One of ArtMuse's episode on Madame de Pompadour, the official mistress of King Louis XV, who became the first woman of Bourgeoisie origins to ever become the King’s mistress in the French Royal Court.And she was much more than just a mistress. As the years went on, Madame de Pompadour eventually graduated from mistress to the King’s political advisor and became involved with domestic and foreign affairs.She was also an important patron of the arts. She was Boucher’s favorite model and

Listen to ArtMuse’s episode on Simonetta Vespucci, a Genoese noblewoman living in Florence during the 15th century. Deemed the most beautiful woman in all of Florence, Simonetta captured the heart of Florence’s greatest leaders, artists, poets, and intellectuals of her time. It is believed that Simonetta was the model for Botticelli’s two greatest works; The Birth of Venus and Primavera.But Simonetta Vespucci’s real life has been clouded by longheld folklore and fantasy. In this episode, we peel

Listen to Part Two of ArtMuse’s episode on Audrey Munson, America’s first supermodel, who not only modeled for countless important sculptures in New York City, but all across the United States.Sadly, Audrey Munson is perhaps America’s first example of the cruel rise and fall of celebrity status. By the early 1920’s, Audrey’s life was filled with continuous challenges and tragedies.Today her face, forever immortalized in bronze, stone, and copper throughout New York City, stares back at us, like a

She stands with her wings spread high above New York City’s Municipal Building, greets readers at the entrance to the New York Public Library, welcomes visitors to the Brooklyn Museum, and salutes guests of the Plaza Hotel. New Yorkers pass her sculpted image every day, but few know her name, or that her life story is one of the most riveting and tragic stories to come out of the 20th century.Listen to ArtMuse’s episode on Audrey Munson, America’s first supermodel, who not only modeled for countless