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La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine

(1806-1832), Magazine

Artist 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.

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'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 - NPG D47494

'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 - NPG D47495

'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 - NPG D47496

'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 - NPG D47497

'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

Anne Townshend (née Montgomery), Marchioness Townshend ('The Marchioness of Townshend in her full Court dress, as worn by her Ladyship, on the Queen's Birth day, 1806'), published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47498

Anne Townshend (née Montgomery), Marchioness Townshend ('The Marchioness of Townshend in her full Court dress, as worn by her Ladyship, on the Queen's Birth day, 1806')

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 - NPG D47499

'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 - NPG D47500

'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

Harriet Innes-Ker (née Charlewood), Duchess of Roxburghe ('London Fashions for September 1806, taken Authentically from the full & half dresses of the Dutches of Roxborough as worn by her Grace on her Marriage in August last'), published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47501

Harriet Innes-Ker (née Charlewood), Duchess of Roxburghe ('London Fashions for September 1806, taken Authentically from the full & half dresses of the Dutches of Roxborough as worn by her Grace on her Marriage in August last')

published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1806
NPG D47501

Harriet Innes-Ker (née Charlewood), Duchess of Roxburghe ('Dutchess of Roxborough's Morning Dress...for April 1807...with the much admired Hat & Tippet ...of Turkish Feathers'), published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47502

Harriet Innes-Ker (née Charlewood), Duchess of Roxburghe ('Dutchess of Roxborough's Morning Dress...for April 1807...with the much admired Hat & Tippet ...of Turkish Feathers')

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 - NPG D47508

'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 - NPG D47509

'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 - NPG D47507

'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 - NPG D47510

'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

Georgiana Charlotte (née Bertie), Marchioness of Cholmondeley ('The Court Dress as worn on his Majesty's Birth Day'), published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47511

Georgiana Charlotte (née Bertie), Marchioness of Cholmondeley ('The Court Dress as worn on his Majesty's Birth Day')

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 - NPG D47512

'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 - NPG D47513

'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 - NPG D47514

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 - NPG D47515

'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 - NPG D47516

'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

'Full Dress', February 1809, published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47541

'Full Dress', February 1809

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

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