Event Archives

It Happened on
July 11, 1908

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.”

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It Happened on
July 7, 1908

From the San Francisco Bulletin, July 8, 1908:

PRINCESS ARTIST, NOT MERELY AMATEUR
Has Painted Portraits of Many Notables Abroad and in the United States and Has Miniature Zoo at Home.

WASHINGTON, July 8. — Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy, better known in the world of art as Vilma Parlaghy, was at the New Willard this afternoon, still slightly prostrated by the effects of the hot spell at Virginia Hot Springs, too sudden an atmospheric change from her sojourn in the bracing air of her small castle in Germany, where she spent most of the winter recovering from grief.

The third hand chauffeur recovered consciousness about the first to do so in the fierce heat that started out with the coming of Washington summer, but she stayed indoors under the eye of her German governess. Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy sat half-reclined in an easy chair at her Highness’ apartments in the hotel, directing a colored servant and a directory of maid to prepare for the delivery of her pictures.

The Princess will exhibit the paintings, which she says are not amateur efforts but are her very best work.

To her it is to be explained that the Princess will not be present to see to their delivery. The Princess will be summering at Bar Harbor.

Vilma Parlaghy, who has been painting for twenty years, was born at Hadju Dorog, Hungary, in 1863. At the age of 17 she showed such genius for art that she was admitted to the Holland school. Later she studied with Hugo Knorr and Professor Herterich.

In 1890 she went to Paris to pursue the academic training of painting. Since then as a woman, she says, she has made a wonderful success on the jury and salon exhibits. She has exhibited in Europe and America, and brings with her this summer thirty paintings and a wonderful collection of miniatures and etchings.

The Emperor Wilhelm is one of the many great men she has painted.

The Princess has painted no less than 400 portraits, including Emperor Franz Josef, Queen Carola of Saxony, King Humbert of Italy, King Edward VII, Bismarck, Admiral Dewey and Elihu Root.

The Princess is the owner of a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of gems and also a coat said to be worth $25,000. It is of blue fox with the tail and head of the animal used as trimmings. She has her own methods of dealing with servants. She also has a miniature zoo, including several dogs, monkeys, parrots and other animals.

“The Princess will exhibit the paintings, which she says are not amateur efforts but are her very best work.”
“Vilma Parlaghy… has made a wonderful success on the jury and salon exhibits.”
“The Princess has painted no less than 400 portraits, including Emperor Franz Josef, Queen Carola of Saxony, King Humbert of Italy, King Edward VII, Bismarck, Admiral Dewey and Elihu Root.”
“She has her own methods of dealing with servants.”
“She also has a miniature zoo, including several dogs, monkeys, parrots and canaries.”
“The Princess is the owner of a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of gems and also a coat said to be worth $25,000.”
“Born at Hadju Dorog, Hungary, in 1863… she showed such genius for art that she was admitted to the Holland school at 17.”

 

 

 

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