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French ball dress, spring 1836

7 of 11 portraits matching these criteria:

- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Undergarments - Stockings'

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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French ball dress, spring 1836

published in Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, Journal des Modes
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, circa February 1836
8 1/4 in. x 5 5/8 in. (210 mm x 144 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47713

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Also published in the Lady's Magazine and Museum, March 1836, with the following description:
Ball Dress - Dress of satin, the corsage made to fit tight to the bust, the front in four pieces, and terminating by a slight point (see plate). The sleeves à triple sabot; a revers or pelerine decollettée ornaments the corsage, it is rather deeper on the shoulders than at either back or front, and is trimmed all round with a white silk fringe: a puffing of coloured satin ribbon goes round the bosom of the dress, and is fastened in front by a small bow. On the shoulders are the noeuds de page, the ends fringed, the lower part of the sleeves is also trimmed with a silk fringe (see the plate): this dress made in white crape, is singularly becoming to young ladies, who can vary the colour of the ribbons at pleasure. A graceful trimming of the broadest satin ribbon, fastened at the left side of the waist, crosses the front of the dress, and terminates a little below the knee at the right side of the skirt: this trimming is ornamented with three bows and long ends; a small one at the waist, a second rather larger in the centre, and a third very large below; the ends of the ribbon are fringed. The head-dress consists of a résille of satin, the colour of the ribbon on the dress (see the plate). The back hair is in braids, drawn up to the top of the head, where it is formed into three coques or bows. The front hair is in smooth bands as far as the temples, where it falls into long full tufts of curls. A few light bows of ribbon ornament the résille at the temples (see the plate), and a few larger bows are intermixed with the back hair. Gold necklace and ear-rings; long kid gloves, ornamented with a puffing of ribbon, to match the dress. Silk stockings à jours; black satin shoes; fan à l'antique. Sitting figure gives back of the dress.

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Current affairs

William Lovett founds the Working Men's Association, the precursor to Chartism, with the aim to achieving equal social and political rights between men of all classes.
A reduction in stamp duty from 4d to 1d helps to keep unstamped newspapers off the street, and leads to wider circulation of legal newspapers.
The first railway line is built in London, connecting to Greenwich and operated by the London Greenwich Railway (LGR).

Art and science

The American poet and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson outlines his theory of transcendentalism in Nature, in which he argues for individualism above traditional authority, stressing the infinitude of the private self and the possibility of achieving an original relation to the universe.
The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer publishes On the Will in Nature, a precursor to his famous The World as Will and Representation.

International

Texas declares its independence from Mexico following a series of battles, including those at the Alamo and Goliad. Sam Houston is the first president of Texas, serving both in 1836-38 and 1841-44.
The city of Adelaide is founded in Australia, at the mouth of the Torrens river, named in honour of Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV.

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