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'Ball Dress, Dinner Party & Childs Dress', September 1829

19 of 21 portraits by William Hopwood

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'Ball Dress, Dinner Party & Childs Dress', September 1829

by William Hopwood, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 December 1829
8 1/2 in. x 5 1/4 in. (216 mm x 133 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47650

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Described in the issue for September 1829, where the image was also reproduced:
A Dinner Party Dress. A dress of gros de Naples of a bright, rich red, between the ruby and the amaranth, trimmed at the border of the skirt with black pluche-de-soye, or with velvet, of a light and silky texture. The corsage is made plain to fit the shape, and is encircled by a belt of black velvet. The head-dress consists of a béret of black satin, tastefully ornamented with white ribbon, with satin stripes, the colour of the gown. Feathers of the bird of paradise are disposed with much elegance, in detached plumage beneath the brim, whence they take a spiral direction towards the summit of the béret.
Ball Dress. Over a white satin slip is a dress of white tulle, or crêpe-aerophane, with a broad trimming at the border, of a novel kind, in honey-comb, of the same material as the dress. This trimming is remarkable for its lightness as for its beauty: it is surmounted by detached bouquets of Provence roses. The body is made plain, and the sleeves short and full. A beautiful bouquet of roses, with a few sprigs of myrtle, is placed on the right side of the bust. The hair is arranged in ringlets, and slightly adorned with flowers, or with jewellery ornaments.
A Child's Dress. A frock of white India muslin, richly embroidered at the border, with pantaloons of the same. The corsage à l'enfant, with short sleeves, and a bow of blue ribbon on each shoulder: a blue sash completes this simple and appropriate costume.

Events of 1829back to top

Current affairs

Metropolitan police force of over three thousand paid, uniformed, professional policemen founded by Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel.
Roman Catholic Relief Act grants emancipation; Catholics admitted to vote, sit in parliament and hold almost all public offices.

Art and science

Success of George Stephenson's Rocket steam engine at Rainhill Trials.
First London bus service licensed; the new 'box-on-wheels' contributes greatly to the expansion of the suburbs.
Apsley House completed for the Duke of Wellington by Benjamin Wyatt.
First Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

International

Andrew Jackson is elected President of the United States.

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