'Opera & Evening full Dresses', August 1806
4 of 78 portraits matching these criteria:
- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Crape; Crêpe'
© National Portrait Gallery, London
'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
8 1/2 in. x 5 1/4 in. (215 mm x 133 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47499
Artistsback to top
- John Bell (1745-1831), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 108 portraits, Sitter associated with 4 portraits.
- La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine (1806-1832), Magazine. Artist or producer associated with 58 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Described in the magazine: London Fashions for August.
An Opera Dress. The first figure represents an Opera Dress, the head-dress consists of a trencher-hat, made of crimson silk, ornamented with pearls at the four corners; the hair hanging in curls at the sides; a white India muslin gown, trimmed round the neck with crimson sarsnet, and fastened with diamonds; short full sleeves, turned up, and ornamented with a bow of the same; a bow also of the same is attached in front. White gloves and shoes.
Full Evening Dress. The second figure represents a lady in a full evening costume; her hair dressed in bandeaux of plaited hair, a diamond star placed in front. A white muslin gown, short full sleeves, sloped low round the neck, confined in front with a large diamond. An India shawl; white gloves and shoes.
Of the two turbans on the side of the plate, one is made of light blue crape, and the other of white silk.
Subjects & Themesback to top
- Fashion Plates: Activities and occasions - Evening dress
- Fashion Plates: Activities and occasions - Full dress
- Fashion Plates: Dresses - Round gowns; round dresses
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Crape; Crêpe
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Muslin
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Sarsnet; sarcenet
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Silk
- Fashion Plates: Hair - Classical Roman hairstyles
- Fashion Plates: Headwear - Trencher-hats
- Fashion Plates: Headwear - Turbans
- Fashion Plates: Influences - Classical influence
- Fashion Plates: Influences - Turkish influence
- Fashion Plates: Outer garments - Shawls - India shawls; Kashmir shawls; cashmere shawls
- Fashion Plates: Trimmings and ornamentation - Bows; noeuds; coques; rosettes; choux
- Jewellery - Pearls
- Jewellery - Precious stones
Events of 1806back to top
Current affairs
William Pitt dies in January and his lifelong opponent Charles James Fox dies in September. Pitt is succeeded by William Wyndham, Baron Grenville, who forms the 'Ministry of all the Talents' coalition .Prince of Wales instigates the 'Delicate Investigation'; a Parliamentary enquiry into claims that his wife Caroline had an illegitimate child.
Art and science
John Constable embarks on a formative tour of the Lakes and makes landscape studies of the Langdale Pikes and Helvellyn.Turner exhibits his Thames views to acclaim at his own London gallery.
Humphrey Davy discovers the elements potassium and sodium by passing an electrical current through molten compounds.
International
Soprano Angelica Catalani arrives from Italy to make her London debut, amazing audiences with her showpiece arias.Napoleon turns his forces east against Austria, Russia and Prussia and enjoys a wave of French victories.
British attack on Buenos Aires under General William Beresford fails.
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