| Eva Callimachi-Catargi | |
| Birth Date: | 10 May 1855 |
| Birth Place: | Paris, Île-de-France, France |
| Death Place: | Paris, Île-de-France, France |
| Spouse: | Alexandre de Basily (1882-1913) |
| Children: | 2 |
| Mother: | Marie Gracia Caroline Richardot |
| Father: | Nicolae Calimachi-Catargiu |
Eva Callimachi-Catargi (May 10, 1855 – May 29, 1913) was a Parisian heiress known for being the subject of two paintings by Henri Fantin-Latour.
Eva was born on May 10, 1855, in Paris. Her father, Nicolae Calimachi-Catargiu, was a Romanian politician who came from a prominent Boyar family. Her mother was Marie Grazia Caroline Richardot. Eva's maternal grandparents were Charles Richardot, a Frenchman, and Eva Levie de Niem, who was of Dutch and Jewish descent.[1]
Eva immersed herself into the art scene of Paris during the Belle Époque period, and modeled various works of art most famously two paintings by Henri Fantin-Latour Drawing lessons in the workshop (1879) and Portrait of Eva Calimachi-Catargiu (1881). Eva was a personal friend of Henri and many talented artists of the time including composer Ernest Chausson, and sculptor Auguste Rodin.[2]
Eva married Alexandre de Basily on April 10, 1882, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Together they had two children:
Although the couple divorced in 1909, both continued to reside in Paris and never remarried. Eva passed away in Paris on May 29, 1913.
Eva's son, Nicolas, inherited her art collection. When Nicolas died in 1963, his widow Lascelle Jean Meserve donated his family's papers including personal notes to Stanford University. The Hoover Institution founded The Nicolas de Basily Room for its permanent exhibit on Russian culture.[4] [5] [6]