'Morning Dress. Afternoon Costume', October 1828

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'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
8 1/2 in. x 5 3/8 in. (216 mm x 135 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47622

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Described in the magazine:
Morning Dress. This costume is a petticoat of fawn coloured gros de Naples, with a very broad hem at the border, headed by an embroidery of Pomona-green floize silk, in a Greek pattern. A canezou-spencer of white muslin is worn with it, richly embroidered in stripes formed of satin-stitch raised spots. The body is drawn, but not very full, and a falling-cape collar falls over it, at the throat, of plain India muslin, trimmed round with two rows of lace. The sleeves are à la Mameluke, and immensely wide. They are finished at the wrists by stiffened points, à l’Antique, of cambric; and next the hand are very broad bracelets of gold, clasped by a cameo-head. When this dress is adopted for the promenade, a bonnet of Pomona-green gros de Naples is worn with it, with a broad white blond at the edge of the brim. The crown is tastefully ornamented with the same blond, and with small bows of green and white ribbon: the blond at the edge is caught up in front, and from thence appears to be carried up on the crown: the bonnet ties under the chin, on the right side, by ribbon similar to that on the crown. The half-boots are of Pomona-green kid.
Afternoon Costume. This is a very favourite style of parure adopted in the country, after returning from the morning walk or drive. It consists of a dress of painted Indian taffety, in white stripes on a ground of pearl-grey. Between the stripes are delicate figures in the most beautiful pencil-work, all of one colour; and on the white stripes, small detached bouquets, remarkable for the variety and splendour of their colours. A very broad, full flounce, with the stripes crosswise, surrounds the border; this flounce is headed en dents de loup, and bound with bright jonquil satin. The body is made quite plain, very much pinched in, and the waist encircled by a yellow ribbon edged with scarlet, with a small rosette behind, without ends. A double frill of the same material as the dress, surrounds the tucker part of the bust. The sleeves are à la Marie, of white crêpe-lisse, and are confined only in the centre of the thickest part of the arm, and at the wrists, by bracelets of very broad gold lace, clasped by a cameo in alto-relievo. The head-dress is a hat of white crape, trimmed with white satin ribbon, the chief ornaments of which are under the brim, in a bow on the left side, and layers. Under the right side is a small white feather; and white esprits, or other fancy plumage, adorn the crown. The ear-rings are of gold. Half-boots, made to fit like a stocking, are of the palest shade of willow-green satin; the fronts are of mignonette-leaf-green, and are of corded or spotted gros de Naples.

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Events of 1828back to top

Current affairs

Duke of Wellington becomes Prime Minister.
Madhouse Act attempts to regulate asylums and ensure new arrivals are genuinely insane.
Repeal of the Test Acts removes political restrictions from dissenters, allowing them to hold public office.

Art and science

London Zoological Gardens open in Regent's Park. They provide both entertainment and a supply of exotic specimens for naturalists and anatomists such as Richard Owen who becomes a European authority on the subject.

International

Daniel O'Connell is elected Member of Parliament for County Clare but as a Catholic is not permitted to take his seat.

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