Countess Albrizzi

The Countess Isabella Teotochi Albrizzi was an author and hostess in Venice.

In 1796 this learned lady married a Count Giuseppe Albrizzi. The Count was her second husband, for at the time of their marriage Isabella was already in her thirties and notable as a person of culture and artistic interests. She soon became famous for her elegant conversazioni, at which one might hope to meet all the more intelligent society that city affords.* It is for this reason that Dr Greysteel seeks Lord Byron there when he needs to consult him about the sad condition of Jonathan Strange.[56]

The Countess is a great enthusiast for sculpture, the works of Canova in particular being favourites with her. Her work Ritratti was published in 1807.

More about the Countess may be found here.

Notes

*. A conversazioni is a social gathering dedicated to literature and the arts more generally, as well as topics such as natural philosophy. It is analogous to the French salon.