Isabel, Countess Gurowska wearing casual dress
In a posting to the Alexander Palace Time Machine Discussion Forum on 10 December 2008, Bourgogne stated, "For Isabel-Fernanda, countess Gurovsky, here is the man she was supposed to marry, before her escapades: her cousin Ferdinand of Orléans, Royal Prince of the French, son of King Louis-Philippe...
But he refused to marry her. In the Orléans family, Isabel-Fernanda was called 'le monstre roux' ('the redheaded monster')!!!!
Ferdinand's sister, Louise, queen of Belgium, received a portrait of Isabel-Fernanda. She wrote to her mother Queen Marie-Amélie (21 november 1836): 'I send you back the portrait. Léopold (Louise's husband, King Léopold I, King of Belgium) said it's awfull! The hair alarm him particulary for the children... If the whole family were carrot-red, it would be really distressing!'...
All the same, this project became serious. Ferdinand was furious and said to his parents: 'The Spanish-one, never! She's hideous, and she's the daughter of a moron and of a whore!'... (it wasn't very nice for Queen Marie-Amélie, the 'whore' was her brother's daughter!...)
The case was closed... He
married Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin."
Posted to the Alexander Palace Time Machine Discussion Forum by Marc on 25 November2008.
Isabel Fernanda demonstrates how the natural waistline prevails for daywear in this portrait. The puffed sleeves suggest this is from the 1850s.
Keywords: Isabel Fernanda, Borbon family, Princess, Countess, hurluberlu coiffure, vee neckline, pelisse, long puffed sleeves, cuffs, natural waistline, full skirt, floral bodice ornament, necklace