Marella Agnelli
Encyclopedia
Marella Agnelli, born Princess
Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto (born May 4, 1927) is an Italian
socialite
, style icon and wife of Fiat
chairman Gianni Agnelli
. Agnelli has often appeared in Vogue. She was named to the International Best Dressed List
Hall of Fame in 1963.
to an old noble
Neapolitan
family. Her father was Filippo Caracciolo, 8th Principe
di Castagneto, 3rd duca
di Melito, and a hereditary Patrician of Naples (1903-1965). Her mother was the former Margaret Clarke (1898-1955) of Peoria, Illinois
. She had two brothers, Carlo Caracciolo
(1925-2008), who inherited their father's titles in 1965 and founded the newspaper La Repubblica and Nicola Caracciolo born 1931, 10th Principe
di Castagneto, 5rd duca
di Melito.
She was married in the Church of Osthoffen
to FIAT
magnate Gianni Agnelli
on 19 November 1953 until his death. They had two children:
in New York early in her varied career, as well as an occasional editor and photographic contributor to Vogue. In 1973, she created a textile line for Abraham-Zumsteg, for which she was awarded the Resources Council's prestigious 'Roscoe' (the design trade's equivalent of the Oscar) in 1977. An avid gardener, Agnelli has authored a number of books on the subject, also providing many of the photographs. Two of her books are about the Garden of Ninfa
(1999) and The Agnelli Gardens at Villar Perosa
(1998).
More recently, she oversaw the opening of the Renzo Piano-designed art gallery, Pinacoteca Giovanni and Marella Agnelli, built on the roof of the famous former Lingotto Fiat factory in Turin, Italy.
's famous circle of 'swans'— wealthy, stylish, and well-married women friends whose company he adored because they 'had created themselves, as he had done,' and 'had stories to tell' (Gerald Clarke
, Capote, pp. 274-75). According to Capote, Agnelli was 'the European swan numero uno,' the youngest in a group that included Babe Paley
, Gloria Guinness
, C. Z. Guest
, Slim Keith
, and Pamela Harriman
, among others. In her autobiography, Washington Post publisher and Capote friend Katharine Graham
recounts that the author once told her that if Paley and Agnelli were 'both in Tiffany's window, Marella would be more expensive' (Personal History, p. 393).
She was portrayed in the 2006 film Infamous
by Isabella Rossellini
.
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto (born May 4, 1927) is an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
, style icon and wife of Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
chairman Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
. Agnelli has often appeared in Vogue. She was named to the International Best Dressed List
International Best Dressed List
The International Best Dressed List was founded by fashionista Eleanor Lambert in 1940 as an attempt to boost the reputation of American fashion at the time.People who have been on the list include from A to Z:-The International Hall of Fame: Women:...
Hall of Fame in 1963.
Background
Donna Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto was born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
to an old noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
Neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
family. Her father was Filippo Caracciolo, 8th Principe
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
di Castagneto, 3rd duca
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
di Melito, and a hereditary Patrician of Naples (1903-1965). Her mother was the former Margaret Clarke (1898-1955) of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. She had two brothers, Carlo Caracciolo
Carlo Caracciolo
Don Carlo Caracciolo di Castagneto was the 9th Principe di Castagneto, 4th duca di Melito and an Italian publisher. He created Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso, one of Italy's leading publishing groups...
(1925-2008), who inherited their father's titles in 1965 and founded the newspaper La Repubblica and Nicola Caracciolo born 1931, 10th Principe
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
di Castagneto, 5rd duca
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
di Melito.
She was married in the Church of Osthoffen
Osthoffen
Osthoffen is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
to FIAT
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
magnate Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
on 19 November 1953 until his death. They had two children:
- Edoardo AgnelliEdoardo AgnelliEdoardo Agnelli was the eldest son of Gianni Agnelli the industrialist patriarch of Fiat, and Marella Caracciolo. After a troubled life, notable for his search for spiritual values, he committed suicide in 2000.- Life :...
(9 July 1954 - 15 November 2000) - Countess Margherita Agnelli de Pahlen (born 26 October 1955)
Career
The accomplished Agnelli, who was educated in Paris, was an assistant to Erwin BlumenfeldErwin Blumenfeld
Erwin Blumenfeld was a famous American photographer of German origin.In the 1930s, he published collages mocking Adolf Hitler. In 1936, he emigrated to Paris. With the German occupation, he was interned in a concentration camp in 1940 because he was Jewish...
in New York early in her varied career, as well as an occasional editor and photographic contributor to Vogue. In 1973, she created a textile line for Abraham-Zumsteg, for which she was awarded the Resources Council's prestigious 'Roscoe' (the design trade's equivalent of the Oscar) in 1977. An avid gardener, Agnelli has authored a number of books on the subject, also providing many of the photographs. Two of her books are about the Garden of Ninfa
Garden of Ninfa
thumb|250px|View of the park.The Garden of Ninfa is a park in the territory of Cisterna di Latina, in the province of Latina, central Italy. It has a surface of 105 hectares. Nearby towns include Norma and Sermoneta.-History:...
(1999) and The Agnelli Gardens at Villar Perosa
Villar Perosa
Villar Perosa is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 40 km southwest of Turin....
(1998).
More recently, she oversaw the opening of the Renzo Piano-designed art gallery, Pinacoteca Giovanni and Marella Agnelli, built on the roof of the famous former Lingotto Fiat factory in Turin, Italy.
The Swans
The reserved, patrician tastemaker and socialite is also known for her inclusion in Truman CapoteTruman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
's famous circle of 'swans'— wealthy, stylish, and well-married women friends whose company he adored because they 'had created themselves, as he had done,' and 'had stories to tell' (Gerald Clarke
Gerald Clarke
Gerald B. Clarke was the principal secretary to the Rhodesian Cabinet throughout the existence of the Rhodesian Front Government...
, Capote, pp. 274-75). According to Capote, Agnelli was 'the European swan numero uno,' the youngest in a group that included Babe Paley
Babe Paley
Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimer Paley was an American socialite and style icon. She was known by the popular nickname "Babe" for most of her life. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958....
, Gloria Guinness
Gloria Guinness
Gloria Guinness , born Gloria Rubio y Alatorre, was a Mexican-born socialite and fashion icon of the 20th century, and a contributing editor to Harper's Bazaar from 1963 until 1971...
, C. Z. Guest
C. Z. Guest
Lucy Douglas Cochrane was an American stage actress, author, columnist, horsewoman, fashion designer, and socialite who achieved a degree of fame as a fashion icon. She was frequently seen wearing elegant designs by famous designers like Mainbocher. Her unfussy, clean-cut style was seen as...
, Slim Keith
Slim Keith
Nancy "Slim" Keith, Lady Keith was a New York socialite and fashion icon during the 1950s and 1960s, exemplifying the American jet set...
, and Pamela Harriman
Pamela Harriman
Pamela Beryl Harriman , also known as Pamela Churchill Harriman, was an English-born socialite who was married and linked to important and powerful men. In later life, she became a political activist for the United States Democratic Party and a diplomat...
, among others. In her autobiography, Washington Post publisher and Capote friend Katharine Graham
Katharine Graham
Katharine Meyer Graham was an American publisher. She led her family's newspaper, The Washington Post, for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon...
recounts that the author once told her that if Paley and Agnelli were 'both in Tiffany's window, Marella would be more expensive' (Personal History, p. 393).
She was portrayed in the 2006 film Infamous
Infamous (film)
Infamous is a 2006 American drama film, based on the 1997 book by George Plimpton, Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career....
by Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and model. Rossellini is noted for her 14-year tenure as a Lancôme model, and for her roles in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.-Background and early life:Rossellini is a...
.