Valtesse de La Bigne

Valtesse de La Bigne
Valtesse de La Bigne, by Henri Gervex, musée d'Orsay, Paris
Valtesse de La Bigne, by Henri Gervex, musée d'Orsay, Paris
Born
Émilie-Louise Delabigne

1848
Paris, France
Died(1910-07-29)29 July 1910
Ville-d'Avray, France
NationalityFrench
Occupation(s)Prostitute, courtesan, actress, art collector

Émilie-Louise Delabigne, known as countess Valtesse de La Bigne (1848, in Paris – 29 July 1910, in Ville-d'Avray) was a French courtesan and demi-mondaine.[1] Although born to a working-class family in Paris, she rose through the social ranks and was a supporter of painters, while creating a space for women to participate in the art world through her collecting and Salon.