Luisa Casati | DantéBéa

The Marchesa Luisa Casati was a major figure in early 20th-century European society. She left her mark on her time with her extravagance, her theatrical appearance, and her taste for the occult; giving large, lavish masked balls, she rubbed shoulders with both high society and avant-garde artists. Her eccentricities and beauty forged her reputation as a femme fatale and contributed to her celebrity. She became a legend among her contemporaries, notably by hosting the Ballets Russes. She amazed the audience by walking with cheetahs on leashes and wearing live snakes as jewelry.