The Marchese had left his young wife at Milan; she looked after the affairs of the family there, and was responsible for providing the sums levied on the casa del Dongo (as they say in Italy); she sought to have these reduced, which obliged her to visit those of the nobility who had accepted public office, and even some highly influential persons who were not of noble birth. A great event now occurred in this family. The Marchese had arranged the marriage of his sister Gina with a personage of great wealth and the very highest birth; but he powdered his hair; in virtue of which, Gina received him with shouts of laughter, and presently took the rash step of marrying the count Pietranera. He was, it is true, a very fine gentleman of most personable appearance, but ruined for generations past in estate, and, to complete the disgrace of the match, a fervent supporter of the new ideas. Pietranera was a sub-lieutenant in the Italian legion; this was the last straw for the Marchese.

- Stendhal, the Charterhouse of Parma

Images: The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms - Italy, Piedmont and Savoy, 1775-1798, vol. 448

Marquis de Lucker, Jean Louis Tocqué, 1743,

and hair powdering in action