Carlos de Beistegui's invitation, on white-beige puffy paper, with a harlequin blanket, invited guests to a “costume ball from the 18th century.
Masks and dominoes ”, September 3, 1951,“ at home, at the Labia Palace ”.
Immensely rich, the latter wanted to hang the rack, after having restored the palace, in a dazzling way.
Successful bet!
The ball, which was called the “ball of the century” the next day, has become a myth in the history of very beautiful festivals.
His great hours were immortalized by photographers Robert Doisneau and Cecil Beaton, but also by designer Alexandre Serebriakoff, who produced watercolors entitled Labia, an evocation of a famous palace and a sumptuous ball.
Some guests arrive masked and in a gondola.
© Farabola / Leemage
Seventy years later, and while the palace was sold, the images of this incredible evening, commented by the pen of Pierre Arizzoli-Clémentel, were reissued by Éditions Gourcuff Gradenigo.
A second part on the palate completes the watercolor album.
Traffic jam on the Grand Canal
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