Marguerite Bellanger

A hand-coloured carte-de-visite portrait of the French courtesan Marguerite Bellanger (1838-1886).

Born Julie Leboeuf in 1838, her childhood was marked by poverty and disadvantage. Although her talents were limited, a career on the stage enabled her to become one of the most sought after courtesans of the Second Empire. She eventually attracted the attentions of the Emperor, who made her his mistress. He gave her several chateaux and the son she bore in 1864 was probably his.

Photographed by Disdéri of Paris.