La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
(1806-1832), MagazineArtist associated with 58 portraits
La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine (London) was one of the most important women's magazines of its time. It was founded by John Bell (1745-1831), a major figure in the London printing and book trade who was also founder or part-proprietor of several other periodicals including The Morning Post, The World of Fashion and Bell's Weekly Messenger. La Belle Assemblée was aimed at fashionable society though only a small part was devoted to fashion. Its first fashion plates from February 1806 were not coloured, but from November 1806 it came out in two forms, uncoloured at 2s 6d or hand-coloured at 3s 6d, illustrating outfits worn by ladies of rank as well as the latest styles. It employed the best fashion artists in England including the portrait painter, Arthur William Devis and John and William Hopwood, but many of the plates were anonymous and many were copies of French ones. From 1810-1820 the fashion section was edited by Mrs Mary Ann Bell (probably a relation of John Bell), a leading dressmaker with several successful shops who introduced plates advertising her own costumes. The magazine went through various owners before merging with The Lady's Magazine and Museum of Belles Lettres in 1837 to become The Court Magazine and Monthly Critic and Lady's Magazine and Museum of the Belles Lettres, music, fine arts, drama, fashions, &c (1838-1847), which appended French editions of Le Follet with its fashion plates.
'The prevailing Spring Fashions for 1806...the Elegant designs of Madame Lanchester'
by James Mitan, after Arthur William Devis, published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
line engraving, published June 1806
NPG D47494
'Spring Fashions for 1806... Walking Dresses in Kensington Garden 1 June 1806'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
line engraving, published 1 July 1806
NPG D47495
'Opera & Drawing Room full dresses, 1806'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1 July 1806
NPG D47496
'Parisian Summer Fashions 1806'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published August 1806
NPG D47497
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching, published 1 March 1806
NPG D47498
'Opera & Evening full Dresses', August 1806
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching, published 1 August 1806
NPG D47499
'Vauxhall Fashions in August, 1806'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published August 1806
NPG D47500
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1806
NPG D47501
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1 April 1807
NPG D47502
'Evening & Walking Dresses in August 1807'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and line-engraving, published 1 September 1807
NPG D47508
'Walking Dresses in April 1807' (Evening or Ball Dress and Walking or Carriage Costume)
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 May 1807
NPG D47509
'Fashionable Walking Dresses in Dec 1807'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and line engraving, published 1 January 1808
NPG D47507
'A Lady of Quality in the Birth day Court Dress, Jany. 18, 1808'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1808
NPG D47510
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published July 1808
NPG D47511
'Morning Walking Dresses', November 1808
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published November 1808
NPG D47512
'A Lady in the Parade Dress in Hyde Park, Feb. 1808'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 March 1808
NPG D47513
London Evening Dress and Morning Riding Dress for September 1808
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 September 1808
NPG D47514
'Evening Dresses as worn in April 1808'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1 May 1808
NPG D47515
'London Full Dresses', November 1808
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1808
NPG D47516
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 1 February 1809
NPG D47541
'Alcantara Hat & Mantle' (the composition of Mrs. Villars of Lower Gower-street)
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and line-engraving, published 1 April 1809
NPG D47542
'Morning Walking Dress in Feb.1809' (furnished by the Miss Walthers of Margaret-street)
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 March 1809
NPG D47543
'Evening Full Dress June 1809'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 July 1809
NPG D47544
'Evening full Dress in March 1809'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 April 1809
NPG D47545
'Morning Walking Dress', July 1810
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 July 1810
NPG D47546
'Evening Dresses for April 1810'
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 April 1810
NPG D47547
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 October 1810
NPG D47548
'Evening Full Dress' designed by Miss Blacklin, March 1811
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 March 1811
NPG D47549
'Evening Full Dress', December 1811
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 December 1811
NPG D47550
'Evening Full Dress', January 1812
published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 January 1812
NPG D47551
published by La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
stipple engraving, 1 February 1824
NPG D49488
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and line engraving, published 1 October 1826
NPG D47577
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 May 1826
NPG D47579
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 March 1826
NPG D47580
'Sea Side Dress', October 1826
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 October 1826
NPG D47581
'Walking Dress', November 1826
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 November 1826
NPG D47582
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, published 1 April 1827
NPG D47595
'Evening Dress. Concert Dress', April 1827
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 April 1827
NPG D47602
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 May 1827
NPG D47596
'Afternoon Dress. Evening Dress', July 1827
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 July 1827
NPG D47599
'Carriage Dress. Walking Dress', July 1827
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 July 1827
NPG D47597
'Evening Dress. Dinner Party Dress', November 1827
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 November 1827
NPG D47601
'Evening Dress. Carriage Dress', September 1827
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 September 1827
NPG D47600
'Walking Dresses', August 1827
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 August 1827
NPG D47598
'Ball Dress. Evening Dress', January 1828
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 January 1828
NPG D47621
'Morning Dress. Afternoon Costume', October 1828
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and acquatint, published 1 October 1828
NPG D47622
'Morning Promenade Dress. Summer Walking Costume', July 1828
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and acquatint, published 1 July 1828
NPG D47623
'Walking Dress. Ball Dress', June 1828
by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published 1 June 1828
NPG D47624
'Ball Dress. Evening Costume', September 1828
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and acquatint, published 1 September 1828
NPG D47625
'Evening Dress. Dinner Party Dress', November 1828
probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and acquatint, published 1 November 1828
NPG D47626
'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
NPG D47650
French Fashions, November 1829. 'Walking Dress. Carriage Dress'
published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 1 December 1829
NPG D47651
'Evening Dress. Dinner Party Dress', January 1829
published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 1 January 1829
NPG D47652
'Opera Dress. Evening Costume', February 1829
published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 1 February 1829
NPG D47653
published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 1 March 1829
NPG D47654
French Fashions, December 1831. 'Morning Dress. Dinner Dress. Opera Dress'
published by Whittaker & Co, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published December 1831
NPG D47660
'Opera Dress. Carriage Dress', March 1832
published by Whittaker & Co, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published March 1832
NPG D47661
French Fashions, March 1832. 'Evening Dress. Ball Dress. Dinner Dress'
published by Whittaker & Co, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published March 1832
NPG D47663
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