I went on a matriarchy journey through Sicily and came back inspired
In the late 1800s, prominent Italian painter Giovanni Boldini was commissioned to paint his now-famous portrait of iconic Sicilian Belle Époque socialite Donna Franca Florio. As the story goes, Boldini's first version, which showed Donna Franca in a black, short-sleeved, low-necked evening gown, was not approved by Donna Franca's husband, who reportedly found it too risqué. He demanded that Boldini lengthen Franca's dress and add a full, wide black lace border. Boldini obliged, and Franca remained covered up in her portrait until 1924, when, with the Florio family's fortunes collapsing, the painting was acquired by French art collector Maurice de ...