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'Evening & Walking Dresses in August 1807'

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- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Headwear - Ostrich feathers'

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'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
8 1/2 in. x 5 in. (215 mm x 127 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47508

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This portraitback to top

La Belle Assemblée, number 21. Described in the magazine:
No. 1. – Evening Dress. A round train dress of India muslin embroidered in a fancy border of needle-work at the feet. The stock bosom, ornamented with white beads. A full Spanish short sleeve, over a plain one of white satin. A scolloped lace tucker, placed strait round the bosom. Circassian scarf of gold, chambrey, or lace, crossing the back and gathered in front of the left shoulder into an emerald brooch, reaching to the feet, finished with a gold tassel, and occasionally formed into drapery by the attitude of the right hand. The hair tastefully disposed in bands and curls; and a small ostrich feather crossing the crown towards the right side, is fastened to the hair with an emerald stud. Earrings, necklace, and bracelets of pearl, with emerald clasps. White kid gloves and shoes.
No. 2. – Evening Walking Dress. A plain round gown of jaconet muslin, a walking length, simply ornamented with rows of open hems round the bottom. A plain square bosom sitting close to the form, laced up the front, and trimmed at the edge with twisted muslin. A large straw hat of the Gipsy form, tied across the crown with a silk handkerchief. Deep Vandyke stock, of lace or needlework. A black lace Chinese shawl, thrown in irregular negligence over the shoulders. Straw-coloured kid gloves and shoes. White sarsnet parasol, deeply fringed, and painted in historical devices.

Events of 1807back to top

Current affairs

Act is passed abolishing the British slave trade after vigorous campaigning by hundreds of thousands of people led by Thomas Clarkson and championed in parliament by reformer William Wilberforce.
Resignation of 'Ministry of all the Talents'. Whig politician William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, Duke of Portland, succeeds as Prime Minister.

Art and science

Thomas Hope publishes Household Furniture and Interior Decoration; influential in promoting Greek and especially Egyptian models as the epitome of fashionable style.

International

French invasion of Spain and Portugal.
Britain occupies Copenhagen and captures the Danish fleet.
Napoleon begins to wage an economic battle against Britain, recognising the impossibility of victory at sea because of Britain's superior naval power. He aims to close the entire European coastline to British trade.

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