Episode 160: Empress Elisabeth, “Sisi,” of Austria Part Two
Empress Sisi at 28 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, dress by Charles Frederick Worth (of course it was) 1865
Empress Sisi’s story often reads like a fairytale … usually because it’s fiction. The basics of her life do parallel those tales: a vivacious, beautiful young woman is chosen from all the lands as the love of the Austrian emperor. As a beloved Empress, she added a fresh energy to Viennese court while riding horses, maintaining her youthful glow, being a fashion icon, mingling with her people, and raising a family.
But the reality behind that lovely facade is s a little darker, a little sadder, and did not end in a “happily ever after.” (more…)
