Empress Elisabeth is another tragic beauty of the 19th century. In keeping with Wittelsbach and Habsburg family traditions, Elisabeth's parents hoped to marry off her older sister Helene (Nene) to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. The Wittelsbachs met with Franz Joseph and they brought Elisabeth as well as Helene. He fell for Elisabeth. Her carefree childhood ended at the age of sixteen with marriage into the stifling Austrian court and a hostile mother-in-law (who was a Wittelsbach). Her beauty was legendary and she was very fashion-conscious. She makes an excellent study in fashion history beginning with the Victorian/crinoline era all the way through the bustle era into the Belle Epoque. She was assassinated in 1898 by an anarchist. Her Wikipedia article is here.
There were once several good Internet sites about her, but they seem to be gone so this collection may now be a major site, populated largely, but not exclusively, with images posted on the Alexander Palace Time Machine Discussion Forum and Foro Dinastias, about Empress Elisabeth.

ca. 1853 Kaiserin Elisabeth von Österreich als Braut vor Possenhofen 1853, Stahlstich von A. Fleischmann nach einem Gemälde von Carl Piloty und Franz Adam, Königlich bayrische Kunstanstalt von Piloty und Loehle München (Dorotheum)

Dress and stole, brought to Vienna as part of her trousseau by Empress Elisabeth, embroidered with Hebrew print

Dress and wrap, brought to Vienna by Empress Elizabeth as part of her trousseau, embroidered with Hebrew print closeup

1855 Sisi wearing floral headdress and bodice ornament by Amanda Bergstedt (location unknown to gogm)

Empress Sisi, Franz Joseph I, Archduchess Gisela, Sophie of Bavaria, Archduke Franz Karl and Archduchess Sophie by Josef Kreihuber (Wien Museum - Wien Austria)

Portrait der jungen Kaiserin Elisabeth von Österreich, Lithographie von J. Melcher nach Schrotzberg (Dorotheum)

1858 Kaiserin Elisabeth mit zwei Kindern, Erzherzogin Gisela und Erzherzog Rudolf by Josef Kriehuber (Albertina Museum - Wien, Austria)

early 1890s (estimated) Sisi wearing an evening gown with vee neckline by ? (location unknown to gogm)
