The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

3 portraits matching these criteria:

- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Dresses - Court trains'

Not found what you are looking for? Try our Advanced search

A long train was a required part of court dress. It was a separate item made of rich silk, satin or velvet and trimmed with lace or feathers, attached at the waist until the 1870s, or the shoulders in the later 19th century. It had to be at least 3 1/2 yards long from the ankles, and by the 1870s had grown to 7 or 8 yards.

List Thumbnail

'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

'Paris fashions for January: The Empress and her ladies' (including Eugénie, Empress of France), published in Illustrated London News - NPG D48034

'Paris fashions for January: The Empress and her ladies' (including Eugénie, Empress of France)

published in Illustrated London News
wood engraving, published 2 January 1869
NPG D48034