Fanny von Arnstein

Born into a prominent Jewish banking family in Berlin and married to a leading Viennese financier, Fanny von Arnstein (b. Itzig) entertained many luminaries at her famous salon. Having received an excellent education, von Arnstein was interested in art and culture and was a cofounder of the Music Society of Austria. She was a prominent hostess during the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), and delegates such as Metternich and Talleyrand attended her receptions, which were sites of political negotiations and intrigues. Although famed for her engagement in non-Jewish society and culture, including introducing the custom of the Christmas tree to Vienna, von Arnstein never converted and remained committed to helping needy Jews.