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Life Of La Païva (Esther Lachmann)

Esther Lachmann, better known by her stage name La Païva, was a French courtesan who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most celebrated and wealthy women of her time. Here is an overview of La Païva’s life:

  1. Early Life:
    • Esther Lachmann was born on June 7, 1819, in the Jewish ghetto of Moscow, Russia.
    • She grew up in poverty and faced a difficult childhood.
  2. Move to Paris:
    • Esther moved to Paris in the early 1840s, seeking a better life and aiming to escape her impoverished circumstances.
    • In Paris, she adopted the name La Païva, a nickname derived from the Polish endearment “little papa.”
  3. Courtesan Lifestyle:
    • La Païva became a renowned courtesan, known for her beauty, wit, and charm.
    • She attracted the attention of wealthy and influential men, including aristocrats and members of the upper class.
  4. Marriages:
    • La Païva strategically married wealthy men to secure her social status and accumulate wealth.
    • Her first marriage was to the Portuguese nobleman Albino Francisco de Araújo de Paiva in 1851, which granted her the title of “Baroness.”
    • Following his death, she married the Prussian Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck in 1871.
  5. The Hôtel de la Païva:
    • La Païva commissioned the construction of the extravagant Hôtel de la Païva on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
    • The mansion, completed in 1866, became a symbol of opulence and grandeur.
  6. Salons and Social Circles:
    • La Païva hosted elaborate salons attended by prominent artists, writers, and intellectuals of the time.
    • She became a central figure in Parisian high society.
  7. Legacy:
    • La Païva’s life and achievements made her an iconic figure of the Second French Empire.
    • The Hôtel de la Païva remains a historic landmark, and her influence on Parisian society is remembered.

Esther Lachmann, or La Païva, navigated the social hierarchy of 19th-century Paris, leveraging her intelligence and charisma to ascend to the upper echelons of society. Her story is a testament to the opportunities and challenges faced by women seeking success and recognition in a society shaped by wealth and social status.