Marquise de Piccolelis

Overview

A Naples society woman whom Count Alexandre de Larderel courted in April 1877. Marie calls her «Mme de Piccolelis» (070.0186) and «la marquise de Piccolelis» (070.0201), and spells the name several ways: Piccolelis, Piccolellis (070.0527), Piccollelis (070.0774), Picolellis (070.0521, also the tome10.docx form). The Mon Journal t.10 index has «Piccolelis (Mme), 79, 84-85, 89, 106-107, 109, 127, 129-130, 132». Not identified outside the diary.

Relevance to Marie

• 15 March 1877, at the Skating: «Une dame a douté de ma largeur, parlant italien» (069.0311; Marie names her as «la dame qui a douté de ma largeur» at 070.0127). Marie later tells the story in full: Pascarola repeated her laughing remark to the lady, who came to apologise as Marie was having her skates put on; Marie answered drily, afraid of being seen talking to «une pareille femme» (070.0780–0788). She describes her as «une charmante beauté, un peu passée, elle touche à la quarantaine», «cette pauvre femme du monde déchue», received everywhere in Naples «sous prétexte qu'elle a été mariée à un marquis» (070.0780, 070.0788, 070.0789).
• April 1877: Larderel courts her at the Skating (070.0186), and Marie becomes jealous (070.0527). Maman predicts «La Piccolelis lui fera faire encore un demi-million de dettes» (070.0504). On 20 April Marie hints to Schininà that her full figure is padded (070.0741); the next day she sees Larderel driving with her «causant comme deux tourtereaux» (070.0774–0775).
• Marie ranks her with the Righi as the kind of woman Larderel's half-hearted love is «bon pour» (070.0521).

References in Diary

• 1877-03-15 (069.0311, unnamed; identified at 070.0127)
• 1877-04-05 (070.0127), 04-06 (070.0186), 04-07 (070.0201), 04-10 (070.0504, 070.0521), 04-11 (070.0527), 04-20 (070.0741), 04-21 (070.0767, 0774–0789), 04-22

See also #Larderel, #Righi.