Cristiana Brandolini d'Adda

Cristiana Brandolini d’Adda, Contessa di Valmareno (born Cristiana Agnelli on 16 February 1927) is an Italian socialite and member of the Agnelli family.

Cristiana Brandolini d'Adda
Countess of Valmareno
BornCristiana Agnelli
(1927-02-16) 16 February 1927
Turin, Italy
Spouse(s)
Brandolino Brandolini d'Adda, Conte di Valmareno
​
​
(m. 1947)​
Issue
Tiberto Brandolini d'Adda
Leonello Brandolini d'Adda
Nuno Brandolini d'Adda
Brandino Brandolini d'Adda
FatherEdoardo Agnelli
MotherVirginia Bourbon del Monte
Occupationsocialite

Early life and family

Cristiana Agnelli was born on 16 February 1927 in Turin.[1] Her father was Edoardo Agnelli, an industrialist, and her mother was Donna Virginia Bourbon del Monte, a noblewoman.[1] Her paternal grandfather, Giovanni Agnelli, founded Fiat Automobiles. Her maternal grandfather was Carlo del Monte, Prince di San Faustino. She was the fifth of seven children. Her sisters were Princess Clara von Fürstenberg, Countess Susanna Rattazzi, and Countess Maria Sole. Her brothers were Gianni Agnelli, Giorgio Agnelli, and Umberto Agnelli. Agnelli's father died in a plane crash when she was eight years old and her mother died in a car accident when she was eighteen years old.[2]

Adult life

At the age of nineteen, Agnelli moved to Rome with her sister Susanna to study art. She met Brandolino "Brando" Brandolini d'Adda, Conte di Valmareno at a party in Cortina, where she was visiting her sister Clara. In 1947 they were married in a Catholic ceremony at the Basilica di San Bartolomeo all'Isola on Tiber Island in Rome.[2] Upon marriage, Agnelli became Countess Brandolini d'Adda of Valmareno.[3][4] They had four sons named Tiberto (nicknamed Ruy),[5] Leonello, Nuno, and Brandino.[1] Tiberto would go on to marry Princess Georgina de Faucigny-Lucinge et Coligny, Nuno married Muriel Phan van Thiet, and Brandino married Marie Angliviel de la Beaumelle.

The couple owned homes in Venice, Paris, and Geneva but mainly spent time at their country estate Vistoria.[6]

Countess Brandolini d'Adda was photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1951.[2] In 1973, she was added to the International Best Dressed List for "outstanding example of elegance without ostentation", and was elevated to the Best-Dressed Hall of Fame in 1975.[2] She has been noted for her style and taste in both fashion and decorating.[7][8][9][10]

Countess Brandolini d'Adda's husband died at the age of eighty-five in 2005.[4]

References
  2. Reginato, James. "Inside "La Dolce Vita" of Countess Cristiana Brandolini D'Adda". Vanityfair.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  3. "Si è spento il sorriso della bella Marie Brandolini d'Adda, contessa in laguna - Cronaca - La Nuova di Venezia". Nuovavenezia.gelocal.it. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. "Brandolini family". Vogue.it. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. "An Italian Socialite in Texas". Wmagazine.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". Pressreader.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. "Adoring an Italian Master, Renzo Mongiardino". !stdibs.com. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. "Marcantonio Brandolini Takes Us Inside the Palazzo Brandolini in Venice". Townandcountrymag.com. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. Golfar, Fiona. "October Vogue: A Fine Romance". Vogue.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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