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'Opera Dress', March 1838

9 of 70 portraits by The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music and Romance

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'Opera Dress', March 1838

probably by W. Bosell, probably published by E. Henderson, probably published in The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music and Romance
hand-coloured etching, probably published March 1838
6 5/8 in. x 3 3/4 in. (169 mm x 95 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47748

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This portraitback to top

This etching was published in The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion on a slightly smaller page (16 x 10 cm) with the description:
Robe of pink figured satin; the corsage made very low, tight to the shape, but crossing in front is trimmed with a blond lace pelerine adapted to it. Short sleeve slashed perpendicularly and the slashed filled with white satin; it is terminated by a blond lace ruffle ornamented with a rosette of ribbon with floating ends. The skirt is trimmed en tablier with blond, and a flounce of the same, headed by a bouillon of tulle, encircles the back of the border - a ribbon passed through the bouillon forms a rosette with floating ends at each side. Black velvet dress hat - a small size; the crown is profusely trimmed with pink ostrich feathers which drop on each side; the brim is round and quite turned up; the hat is placed very far back upon the head displaying the hair, which is disposed in soft braids with a half wreath of silver flowers, to which a gerbe composed of a rose and silver epis, is attached on one side.

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.

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