La Païva, also known as Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck (1819–1884), is arguably the most famous of 19th-century French courtesans. Born Esther Lachman, she arrived in Paris aged 18 and was rapidly introduced to the city’s cultural and artistic circles by her lover, piano composer, and pianist, Henri Herz. This relationship gained her the friendship of many artists, including Richard Wagner, Hans von Bülow, Théophile Gautier, and Emile de Girardin.
She is a distant relative of Karol Henckel.