In
1922, Luisa Casati acquired the Palais Rose—previously
owned by the poet and dandy the Comte Robert de Montesquiou,
this elegant mansion of red marble was situated in the exclusive
enclave of Le Vésinet just outside of Paris. There, the
Marchesa transformed a detached pavilion into a private art gallery
devoted to the glorification of her own image. Within this sanctum,
visitors could view more than one hundred and thirty renderings
of Casati by master artists in oil, ink, pastel, clay, bronze
and wax. It is no wonder that the Marchesa’s residence
became known as her very own Palais du rêve—Luisa’s
dream palace.
