Pauline von Metternich

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Princess Pauline Metternich. Painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter , 1860

Pauline Clementine Marie Walburga Fürstin von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein , née Countess Sándor von Szlavnicza, (born February 25, 1836 in Vienna; † September 28, 1921 ibid) was an Austrian salonnière , which worked mainly in Paris and Vienna .

Life

Pauline Countess of Sándor. Daguerreotype by Hermann Krone , December 31, 1854
Princess Metternich. Painting by Edgar Degas , 1865
Princess Metternich on the beach. Painting by Eugène Boudin , around 1865

On her mother's side, Pauline von Metternich was a granddaughter of State Chancellor Klemens Wenzel Lothar von Metternich (1773-1859). In 1856 she married her uncle Richard Klemens Prince Metternich (1829–1895), whereby the old Prince Klemens also became her father-in-law. Since 1856 envoy in Dresden with responsibility for all Saxon states, Richard was Austrian ambassador to Paris from 1859 to 1871 , where his wife always played a leading role in social life. Her salon in Paris during the Second Empire , which was to shape an entire generation of salons and salons, became particularly famous and style-forming . In 1871 the couple returned to Vienna . Pauline von Metternich also became known through her alleged duel with Countess Kielmansegg .

Social role

Commitment to Wagner

As an “ambassador” in Paris, she played a major role as a salonnière and “grande dame”. With Emperor Napoléon III. and Empress Eugénie she was close friends. The Kaiser, who was as fond of women as they were physically and intellectually, adored her very much and for her sake stood up for the works of Richard Wagner , which were highly controversial in Paris society on the eve of the Franco-Prussian War ; On her initiative, in 1861 he ordered the performance of Tannhauser at the Paris Opera. In retrospect, her commitment to Wagner inspired the composer to the bon mot that two emperors had " supported him from Courtoisie ": Napoléon III. because of Princess Metternich, Kaiser Wilhelm I because of Countess Schleinitz .

The composer Carl Michael Ziehrer dedicated the Metternich- Gavotte , op. 378 , to her in honor .

Philanthropic engagement

But Pauline was not only innovative in the artistic field: she also initiated the flower parade on Hauptallee in the Prater and supported the operation of the polyclinic in Vienna. Because of her social commitment and her resolute nature, she became very popular with the people and was nicknamed "Princess Paulin"; Famous for her gossip, she was also nicknamed "Mauline Petternich". Famous for her intelligence and beauty throughout her life, the princess has been portrayed by artists such as Edgar Degas and Eugène Boudin . After the death of Empress Elisabeth , she assumed a quasi-official position as the “grande dame” of Vienna, a position that she shared with Princess Nora Fugger .

In Vienna she lived in the Metternich-Sándor Palace in the 3rd district , where she held her famous Cercle. The Palais Metternich has been the seat of the Italian Embassy in Vienna since 1908.

In 2016 the Pauline-Metternich-Promenade in Vienna- Leopoldstadt (2nd district) was named after her.

Pauline von Metternich and Empress Elisabeth

The real enmity between Pauline and Empress Elisabeth was no secret at court and was followed with satisfaction. The court society used every opportunity to expose the Empress to Pauline Metternich. Because Elisabeth came from only a side branch of the royal Bavarian family and was not fully equal to the House of Habsburg; However, since particular importance was attached to equality at the Austrian court, where noble families set the tone, the courtiers mercilessly exploited this “weakness”. Pauline said that Elisabeth did not fit into the role of an empress and quickly took over her duties, including organizing large celebrations and showing off the latest fashion.

Just as Empress Eugénie set the tone in matters of fashion in France, it was Pauline Metternich in Vienna and not the Empress, who was just right, because she hated all representation tasks. Pauline led the main battle against the crinoline , which was perceived as more and more uncomfortable , but was mocked by the Empress because she adorned herself with too much make-up and "tinsel", which the monarch strictly rejected for herself. The two women also differed in social issues: While Elisabeth placed no value on social rank, Pauline Metternich surrounded herself primarily with the high aristocracy, but also opened her salon to the so-called Second Society , for example for members of the Rothschilds , the Financier of the imperial family played a role.

progeny

Pauline and Richard von Metternich had three daughters:

  • Sophie Princess von Metternich-Winneburg (1857–1941)
  • Antoinette Pascalina Princess Metternich-Sándor von Winneburg (1862–1890)
  • Clementine Marie Princess Metternich-Sándor von Winneburg (1870–1963)

Honor

The Paulinenwarte in the Türkenschanzpark
The leading personalities of the Vienna Polyclinic, 1902.
(from left to right: August Leopold von Reuss , Auxiliary Bishop Godfried Marschall , Pauline von Metternich, Alois Monti , Julius Mauthner

In the course of the expansion of the Türkenschanzpark in Währing , Princess Pauline Metternich donated many exotic plants and as a token of thanks the observation tower was given the name "Paulinenwarte" in 1909.

Works

literature

Web links

Commons : Fürstin Pauline von Metternich  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Carl Friedrich Glasenapp : The life of Richard Wagner . 4th edition. Leipzig 1905, volume 3, p. 250.
  2. ^ Cosima Wagner : The diaries . Munich 1976 f., Volume 2, p. 347 (May 10, 1879).
  3. ^ History of the Italian Embassy in Vienna
  4. ↑ See Hamann, pp. 194-198.
  5. ^ City of Vienna: Paulinenwarte observation tower in Türkenschanzpark ; accessed on April 8, 2018
personal data
SURNAME Metternich, Pauline von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Metternich-Sándor, Pauline Princess
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian salonière
DATE OF BIRTH February 25, 1836
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH September 28, 1921
Place of death Vienna