Ball dress, autumn 1837
1 of 5 portraits matching these criteria:
- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Influences - 18th century influence'
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Ball dress, autumn 1837
published in Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, Journal des Modes
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published circa November 1837
8 3/8 in. x 5 7/8 in. (213 mm x 149 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47725
Artistback to top
- Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, Journal des Modes (1829-1892), French magazine. Artist or producer associated with 89 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Also published in The Lady's Magazine and Museum, December 1837, with a description:
Ball Dress - Dress of white tulle, with a double skirt, worn over white satin corsage uni and à-pointe, sleeves short, in plaits at top, the lower part in a small single sabot; the underneath skirt is ornamented with a very deep flounce of rich blonde, the outside one only reaches to the sides (see plate), where it is looped up, quite in the style of the ancient costumes; wreaths of small but richly variegated flowers form a heading to the flounce; a garniture of the same is upon the sleeves, and down the seams of the front of the corsage (see plate); a trimming, likewise of flowers, runs along each side of the second skirt, and terminates at the looping up of the same by a bouquet. Hair in thick ringlets, with a guirlande (wreath) of mixed flowers. Necklace and ear-rings of pearls, gold armlets placed immediately below the short sleeve (see plate). Half long kid gloves, with ruches of satin ribbon at top; white shoes; antique fan. The dress of the sitting figure is of pink satin, the back hair twisted en torsade.
Child's Dress - Frock and trowsers of white pou de soie, the corsage plain, with crossed draperies put on (see plate). Short tight sleeves, finished with ruches of tulle; coloured sash; bows on the sleeves and in the hair.
Subjects & Themesback to top
- Fashion Plates: Accessories - Fans - Antique fans
- Fashion Plates: Accessories - Gloves - Kid gloves
- Fashion Plates: Accessories - Scarves
- Fashion Plates: Activities and occasions - Ball dress
- Fashion Plates: Activities and occasions - Full dress
- Fashion Plates: Bodices - Corsages à pointe
- Fashion Plates: Bodices - Corsages uni
- Fashion Plates: Bodices - Cross-over bodices; drapé croisé
- Fashion Plates: Children - Frocks
- Fashion Plates: Children - Trousers; trowsers; pantaloons; pantalettes
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Poux-de-soie; poult-de-soie
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Satin
- Fashion Plates: Fabrics - Tulle
- Fashion Plates: Hair - 17th century hairstyles
- Fashion Plates: Hair - Torsades
- Fashion Plates: Influences - 18th century influence
- Fashion Plates: Influences - French fashions
- Fashion Plates: Lace - Blonde; blond
- Fashion Plates: Sleeves and cuffs - En bouffant; en sabot
- Fashion Plates: Trimmings and ornamentation - Bows; noeuds; coques; rosettes; choux
- Fashion Plates: Trimmings and ornamentation - Flowers
- Group portraits
- Jewellery - Pearls
Events of 1837back to top
Current affairs
The controversial monarch William IV dies of pneumonia in June leaving no legitimate heirs, and is succeeded to the throne by his niece Victoria, one month after her eighteenth birthday.The Registration Act of Births, Marriages and Deaths makes it compulsory for all births, marriages and deaths to be registered at a Registry Office.
Art and science
Dickens's second novel Oliver Twist is serialised in Bentley's Magazine. The story of the orphan Oliver is an attack on the Poor Law Amendment Acts (1834), a highly contentious piece of legislation which abolished outdoor relief, effectively increasing entry in the workhouse. The novel, famously made into a musical in 1968, marks Dickens as an outspoken social critic as well as a highly popular and commercial writer.International
The Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin is killed in a duel with Baron Georges d'Anthès. Considered the founder of modern Russian literature, Pushkin blended Old Slavonic with vernacular Russian and was the first Russian writer to use everyday speech in his poetry. His works include Eugene Onegin.Comments back to top
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