In the late nineteenth century, the pre-eminent Italian painter Giovanni Boldini was commissioned to paint his now famous portrait of the iconic Sicilian Belle Époque socialite Donna Franca Florio. As the story goes, Boldini's initial version, which saw Donna Franca in a short-sleeved and low-cut black evening dress, was not approved of by Donna Franca’s husband, who reportedly found it too risqué. He demanded that Boldini lengthen Franca’s dress, and add full, wide black lace. Boldini obliged, and Franca remained covered in her portrait until 1924 when, with the collapse of the Florio family's wealth, the painting was acquired by French art collector Maurice de Rothschild, who commissioned Boldini to restore Franca to her original, provocative self.
