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Dinner or Evening Dress and Walking Costume, January 1840

33 of 56 portraits matching these criteria:

- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Activities and occasions - Carriage dress'

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Dinner or Evening Dress and Walking Costume, January 1840

published by Dobbs & Co, published in The Court Magazine and Monthly Critic and Lady's Magazine and Museum, first published in Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, Journal des Modes
hand-coloured etching, line and stipple engraving, published January 1840
8 in. x 5 3/4 in. (204 mm x 147 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47853

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Described in the magazine:
Dinner Dress - Dress of white tulle or crape over satin. The corsage is low, and has a few gathers at the waist, in the centre of the front and at the back. The sleeves sit quite tight to the arm and are ornamented with bows of satin ribbon. The skirt of the dress is open in front and forms a kind of tunic, with the corners rounded off, the trimming is of the same material as the dress, it is double and cut on the cross way, a peep at the plate will suffice to show how it is put on. There are two rows of this trimming on the corsage, the upper one goes across the back and is brought down the front in a graceful slope, rather in the stomacher style, the second row only reaches however from the shoulder to the waist, the two rows round the skirt seem a continuation of the trimming on the corsage. The satin skirt has a tolerably deep hem cut on the crossway of the material. Sash tied at the left side, it is of wide rich figured satin ribbon. The front hair is brought in smooth bands to a level with the ear, the remainder in a broad braid, carried below the ear and the ends fastened at the back. Long hair is coiled and twisted very low, at back, indeed quite at the neck, it is intermixed with velvet bows and two long ends of the ribbon fall as low as the neck. White kid gloves the tops ornamented with wreaths of very small flowers. Satin shoes and bouquet.
Sitting figure, Walking or Carriage Costume - Pink satin hat, the front very much off the face, but the sides sitting rather close ornamented with feathers intermixed with a bouquet of roses. Underneath is a puffing of gauze with a few flowers. Satin redingotte, trimmed all round with fur; the corsage is plain to the figure, and has a deep cape which turns over en chale, the dress crosses over to the left side, the end is fastened round the waist by a silk cord and tassel. The sleeves have one deep gathering below the shoulder, the remainder full to the wrist, which is of fur. The corsage being open at the neck displays a chemisette edged with lace, a short silk scarf is fastened round the throat with a handsome brooch, the ends fall inside the corsage of the redingotte. Kid gloves.

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Events of 1840back to top

Current affairs

Victoria marries her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; he is given the title of Prince Consort.
The Penny Black stamp is introduced by Rowland Hill; the first pre-paid, self-adhesive stamp, it marks the start of the modern postal system.
The start of the Irish potato famine, which by the time of its peak in 1851, had caused the deaths of one million, and contributed to the sharp rise of emigration from Ireland to England and America.

Art and science

Beau Brummel, the fashion leader responsible for sparking the culture of 'Dandyism', dies of syphilis.
The first stone is laid on the new Houses of Parliament, based on the gothic designs by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. The old buildings had burned down in 1834, following a blaze caused by burning wooden tallies used by the Exchequer to calculate tax.

International

The Afghans surrender to Britain during the Afghan-British war (1839-42). The war was sparked by British fear over Russian influence in Afghanistan, with the British East India Company resolving to depose the Afghan leader, Dost Muhammad, who was insistent on Afghan independence, and restore the former leader Shoja Shah.
The Maoris yield sovereignty of New Zealand under the Treaty of Waitangi.

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