Marella Agnelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marella Agnelli |
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Marella Agnelli in the 1950s
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| Born | Princess Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto 4 May 1927 Florence, Italy |
| Died | 23 February 2019 (aged 91) Turin, Italy |
| Spouse | Gianni Agnelli (1953–2003, his death) |
| Issue | Edoardo Agnelli Countess Margherita Agnelli de Pahlen |
| House | House of Caracciolo |
| Father | Filippo Caracciolo, 8th Prince of Castagneto, 3rd Duke of Melito, Patrician of Naples |
| Mother | Margaret Clarke |
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Marella Agnelli (born Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto; 4 May 1927 – 23 February 2019) was an Italian noblewoman and a famous art collector. She was also known as a socialite and a style icon. Marella was married to Gianni Agnelli, who was the chairman of Fiat S.p.A., a very large car company.
She often appeared in the fashion magazine Vogue. In 1963, she was added to the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame List. This showed how important her style was.
Contents
Marella's Early Life
Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto was born in Florence, Italy. She came from a very old and important noble family called the House of Caracciolo. Her father was Filippo Caracciolo, who was a prince and a duke. He was also involved in politics and worked for the Council of Europe.
Her mother was Margaret Clarke from the United States. Her family was known for making whiskey. Marella had two brothers, Carlo and Nicola. Carlo became famous for starting a newspaper called La Repubblica. Marella and her brothers grew up speaking Italian, French, and English. They lived in Rome and Turkey.
Marella's Family Life
Marella married Gianni Agnelli on 19 November 1953. Gianni was a very powerful businessman, often called "the uncrowned king of Italy." They were married for 50 years until Gianni passed away in 2003.
They had two children:
- Edoardo Agnelli (1954–2000)
- Countess Margherita Agnelli de Pahlen (born 1955)
Margherita later had children, including John Philip Jacob Elkann. He is now a very important businessman in Italy.
Marella's Career and Interests
After finishing her studies in Switzerland, Marella went to art schools in Paris. She had a very varied career. She worked as a photographer, a designer, and an art collector. She even did some modeling.
Marella started her photography career in New York City. She worked as an assistant to a famous photographer named Erwin Blumenfeld. When she returned to Italy, she also contributed photos and edited for magazines like Vogue.
In 1973, Marella created her own line of fabrics. She won an award for her designs in 1977. She designed fabrics for many companies, including Marshall Field's in the United States. She was very good at designing fabrics for homes.
Marella loved gardening and wrote several books about it. She even took many of the photos for her books herself. Two of her books were about the beautiful gardens at Villar Perosa and the Garden of Ninfa.
In the 2000s, she helped open an art gallery called the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli. This gallery was built on the roof of the old Fiat factory in Turin. It shows amazing artworks by famous artists like Picasso, Renoir, and Matisse. The gallery also holds temporary modern art shows. Marella also asked artists like Andy Warhol to create art for her.
Marella was also involved in many important organizations. She was a member of the board for the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She was also part of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The Swans
Marella Agnelli was known for being part of a special group of friends called "The Swans." This group was put together by the famous writer Truman Capote. The Swans were wealthy, stylish women who had interesting lives. Capote called Marella "the European swan numero uno."
Other famous women in this group included Babe Paley and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Marella was nicknamed "the Swan" after a famous photograph of her by Richard Avedon in 1949. Capote later called her "the Last Swan."
Marella's Death
Marella Agnelli passed away on 23 February 2019, at her home in Turin. She was 91 years old. Her family announced her death. She had been ill for some time. The cause of her death was complications from Parkinson's disease.
Her funeral was a private event held in a church in Villar Perosa. She was buried in her family's cemetery. The Agnelli family owns the association football club Juventus, and they also mourned her passing.
Popular Culture
Marella Agnelli was shown in the American movie Infamous (2006). She was played by the actress Isabella Rossellini.
Honours
Grand Officer Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: This is a very high honour in Italy. Marella received it from the president on 13 September 2000.
Images for kids
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Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
See also
In Spanish: Marella Caracciolo para niños
