First Previous 1 OF 7 NextLast

'Fashions for June 1838'

1 of 7 portraits by The New Monthly Belle Assemblée

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation

'Fashions for June 1838'

published in The New Monthly Belle Assemblée
hand-coloured etching, published June 1838
9 3/8 in. x 5 1/2 in. (238 mm x 141 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47742

Artistback to top

This portraitback to top

Described in the magazine, where it was the left half of a double-page spread:
Carriage dress - Emerald green pou de Soie pelisse, the corsage half high, is trimmed with a pelerine en cour, which is bordered with a bouillon of the material of the dress, and fastened up the front with small silk buttons. Two rows of bouillon placed close together decorate the skirt; knots of ribbon are placed upon them at regular distances. The upper part of the sleeve has the fullness gaged close to the arm below the shoulder; three rows of bouillon descend from thence nearly to the elbow, the sleeve is full from thence till it reaches the cuff, which is rather deep. Drawn bonnet of rose coloured pou de Soie, the brim is long, and rather deep, the interior is trimmed with blond and a rose at each side, the edge is finished by a tulle ruche, and the crown is ornamented with coques of ribbon, and a drapery of tulle.
Public Promenade Dress - The robe is lilac gros de Naples, lightly figured in black. Square shawl of rose coloured pou de Soie, trimmed with very broad English point lace. Rice straw hat, a round and rather open brim, the interior trimmed over the forehead with blond lace laid flat, and a few very small light flowers; the crown is decorated with three ostrich feathers.
Half-length figures and fashionable millinery.
No. 1. Gives a back view of the hat of the public promenade dress.
No. 2. Dinner Dress - Straw-coloured pou de Soie robe, the skirt trimmed en tablier with ruches of ribbon to correspond; corsage made tight to the shape, and half high, with a pelerine lapel, which is trimmed, as is also the centre of the corsage with a ruche; wide sleeves, the fullness confined below the shoulder, and at the wrist by ruches; rice straw hat, the interior of the brim tastefully decorated with flowers and tulle, the crown is trimmed with white and rose-coloured figured ribbon, and a bird of Paradise.
No. 3. Carriage Bonnet of rice straw, a cottage shape, trimmed with roses panachées, blond lace, and white ribbon.
No. 7. Evening Cap, composed of blond lace and trimmed with pink ribbon and roses.
No. 8. Walking Bonnet of straw-coloured pou de Soie trimmed with ribbon to correspond.

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1838back to top

Current affairs

The Anti-Corn Law league is established in Manchester, led by Richard Cobden and John Bright, aiming to create a fully free-trade economy.
The People's Charter is published, demanding many constitutional amendments that would become central to future democratic reform, including universal male suffrage and secret ballots. Despite having one million signatures (and 5 million by 1848), the petition was rejected.
Slavery is completely abolished.

Art and science

Turner's The Fighting Temeraire is exhibited at the Royal Academy. The Temeraire, which had broken the line at the Battle of Trafalgar, was a reflection on the rapid changes of the industrial age. This was demonstrated this year when Isambard Brunel's Great Western crosses the Atlantic, in just fifteen days - a ship under sail could take a month.
The London-Birmingham railway is also completed, the line engineered by Robert Stephenson.

International

The first stage in the formation of independent Boer republics in South Africa, as the Republic of Natal is formed in South Africa, following the Boers defeat of the Matabele of Mzilikasi. This comes two years after the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of the British-ruled colony of South Africa set out on the Great Trek, in search of their own independent state.
The Central American Federation, an experimental republic formed of several Latin states splits.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.