Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Saturday, July 11, 1908
Russian Noblewoman, a Distinguished Painter, Who Has Created a Stir in Eastern Cities With Her Zoo, May Visit Pittsburgh.
The Princess Vilma Lwoff Parlaghy, whose appearance has aroused so much interest in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, may possibly include Pittsburgh in her sight-seeing tour of American cities. But she travels with such a retinue, including attachés and maids and her “zoo,” that few private houses could entertain her.
The princess, who arrived in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July, two years ago became acquainted with Mrs. William A. Stone and her daughters, who spent the winter in Nice, where the princess has a villa. If she decided not to come to this city, Mrs. Stone will probably go on to Philadelphia, to renew the acquaintance made abroad.
The Princess Lwoff Parlaghy travels with a retinue composed of her chief marshal, the first attaché and secretary, the third attaché and secretary, a chef, butler, coachman and footman. There is also a first maid to the princess, a second maid, a maid who takes care of Bobbie, the most petted of French poodles, a Swedish maid and an animal keeper. Her zoo is said to include two Russian guinea pigs, two sacred ibises, one Virginia horned owl, a diminutive monkey, two baby coyotes, two falcons, two ordinary guinea pigs, one wild dog, a tiny live Teddy bear and four alligators.
“I knew the Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy in Nice, where she makes her winter home in a charming villa,” said Mrs. Stone yesterday. Her great reputation as an artistic portrait painter far transcends any distinction that her rank gives her. Her skill and ability, achieved by years of study and application, realizes her ambition. She is conceded by critics in Europe, as having few, if any, superiors in her chosen art. She has painted the portraits of a great many members of the royal families, and during the winter my daughters and I resided in Nice we frequently heard her spoken of with the utmost respect and friendly admiration.
“The criticism made in this country with regard to her animals would be ridiculous in Europe, where she is known to keep animals with her as models and for studies in animal and portrait painting. The painting of animals is one of the specialties in which she excels.”
“Her simplicity of manner was what charmed most, and in her home you meet some of the most distinguished men and women of the nobility of Europe, and people who are eminent in other lines. Her house is filled with beautiful things, most of them great numbers of her own paintings. Although I visited her a number of times I never saw her animals.”
“The princess is Hungarian by birth, but her family is known and recognized, the fact that she married a Russian. She is a fine linguist and speaks English very prettily. Of her rank I cannot tell, for there are so many princesses in Europe, and rank is not always the distinguishing characteristic, as was the case with the Princess Lwoff Parlaghy, who is first an artist, then a princess.”
The Animals in Her Traveling Zoo
Two Russian guinea pigs – likely larger, woollier than standard guinea pigs.
Two sacred ibises – large wading birds, symbolic in Egyptian art.
One Virginia horned owl – American owl species with prominent tufts.
A diminutive monkey – small monkey, species not specified.
Two baby coyotes – wild North American canine pups.
Two falcons – birds of prey, likely used in falconry or symbolism.
Two ordinary guinea pigs – common domesticated variety.
One wild dog – possibly a more feral or exotic canine.
A tiny live Teddy bear – possibly a small bear or highly stylized name for another animal.
Four alligators – large reptiles, most likely from the American South.
Vilma’s Eccentricities
“But she travels with such a retinue, including attachés and maids and her ‘zoo,’ that few private houses could entertain her.”
“Her skill and ability, achieved by years of study and application, realizes her ambition. She is conceded by critics in Europe as having few, if any, superiors in her chosen art.”
“The painting of animals is one of the specialties in which she excels.”
“She is a fine linguist and speaks English very prettily. Of her rank I cannot tell, for there are so many princesses in Europe…”
“As is the case with the Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy, who is first an artist, then a princess.”
