by : Giovanni Boldini / location : Public collection / Year : 1911 / Oil on canvas

Original size: Not listed

Rita Lydig was born of wealthy Spanish parents in New York City in the late 1870's. She married her first husband,W.E. Stokes, a multimillionaire whom she had a son by and was eventually divorced. She then married Captain Lydig. Rita's beauty was renowned and was painted several times by artists such as Boldini and John Singer Sargent. She was also famous for her lavish spending. Yet, she had talent. She wrote, "Tragic Mansions" and was a rival of writer, Edith Wharton, who was also her friend.

Rita has a younger sister, Mercedes, who was a scriptwriter and social critic.