It Happened on
June 24, 1908
From The Jersey Journal Wed, Jun 24, 1908, Page 9
Few women have had more trouble establishing their right to live and to work out the talent given to them by an all-wise Creator, than Princess Lwoff-Parlagny (Vilma Par-laghy) in her career as an artist. The Princess is currently in Washington, D.C., where she has gone to meet the directors of the National Art Gallery, who will decide upon a statesman for her to paint a portrait of. This portrait will be presented to the National Gallery.
Even as a little girl, she exhibited such a genius for art that her parents provided her with all available advantages in Budapest.
Vilma Parlaghy was born in Hajdu Dorog, Hungary, in the seventies. Even as a little girl, she exhibited such a genius for art that her parents provided her with all available advantages in Budapest. At the age of fourteen, she was taken to Munich to study under the famous Von Lenbach. However, Von Lenbach, who took few pupils and especially did not wish to be bothered with a girl, was initially reluctant to teach her. Piqued, Vilma set up her own studio and made a copy of one of Von Lenbach’s noted paintings, which so amazed him that he consented to teach her.
Two coyotes, pelicans, guinea pigs, falcons, crocodiles, monkeys, squirrels, and horned owls are among her collection
From Munich, she went to Italy, where, at the age of sixteen, she painted the portrait of the aged Hungarian patriot, Kossuth, who was living in Turin. She also studied in the Holland school. Twelve years ago, she sent a large oil portrait of Field Marshal von Moltke to the Berlin exhibition of paintings. Initially declined by the jury, the Emperor himself overruled and ordered the picture to be hung on the line. The Emperor then posed for Vilma Parlaghy for his now well-known picture in the Dragoon Guards’ uniform. The Princess has painted five portraits of the Kaiser.
Among other famous persons who have sat for her are Queen Carola of Saxony, King Albert of Saxony, King Peter of Serbia, the King and Queen of Württemberg, Princess Bismarck, Admiral Dewey, and Mirza Aly Khan, Grand Vizer of Persia.
The Princess travels with a menagerie of wild animals, of which she is very fond. Two coyotes, pelicans, guinea pigs, falcons, crocodiles, monkeys, squirrels, and horned owls are among her collection. The Princess and her family (including the animals and birds) will spend the summer at fashionable Newport. In the fall, they will return to Washington, where the Princess will paint the picture for the National Gallery.
Featuring: National Art Gallery, Von Lenbach, Hungarian patriot, Kossuth, Field Marshal von Moltke, The Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, Queen Carola of Saxony, King Albert of Saxony, King Peter of Serbia, King and Queen of Württemberg, Princess Bismarck, Admiral Dewey, and Mirza Aly Khan, Grand Vizer of Persia.
Original article
