Virginia Courtauld

Lady Virginia Courtauld (Known name of Virginia Peirano; formerly Spinola Peirano) was a Romanian-born philanthropist and member of the Courtauld Family, known for the Art Deco renovation of Eltham Palace and co-owning the La Rochelle country estate.

Early life Virginia Peirano was born Vergilia Rosa Vester on 7 January 1885 in Brăila, to a Hungarian mother, Rosa Balint Peirano (1860–1940), and an Italian father, Riccardo Peirano (1854–1930). Peirano's father was a shipping merchant, whose family left Genoa in the late nineteenth century and established a grain-exporting business in the Romanian port city of Brăila. Peirano's parents married on the 30 November 1886. In either late 1909 or early 1910, Peirano relocated with her parents to Santa Margherita, Liguria .

In 1910, Peirano met the Marchese Paolo Spinola (1880–1969), the Spinola's third and youngest son and a member of the Luccoli branch of the House of Spinola. Honeymooning in the Khedivate of Egypt, the couple continued to travel extensively throughout their marriage. Following a bombing on Eltham Palace in 1944, the Courtauld's gave up their lease and moved to Scotland.

Rhodesia

In 1951, the Courtauld's moved to Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe), and commissioned the building of the La Rochelle country estate. The Courtaulds supported non-racialism, were personal friends of Hastings Banda and advocated for Rhodesian black rule.

Jersey Peirano left Zimbabwe in 1970, and lived with family in St Lawrence, Jersey.

In popular culture The 2017 book Virginia, un mondo perduto. Scene da un matrimonio Belle Epoque di casa Spinola was edited by . In 2018, Peirano was honoured at the Rose Festival in Busalla .

The 2019 historical fiction book The Dragon Lady is based on Peirano's life.

The Indonesian orchid Vanda lombokensis 'Virginia Courtauld' is named after Peirano.