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'Dinner dress and toilette d'interieur', November 1840

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- subject matching 'Fashion Plates: Headwear - Half dress caps'

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'Dinner dress and toilette d'interieur', November 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 November 1840
8 1/4 in. x 5 7/8 in. (210 mm x 148 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47868

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The plate was originally published in Paris in 'Le Follet' on 26 October. Described in the Court Magazine:
1st Figure - Dinner dress - Dress of broche, striped silk, white, with a buff shape and bright running pattern of coloured flowers. The corsage is made low, tight, and à pointe with a draperies put on, à la sevigné, the front, it will be perceived, is very long, the sleeves are quite tight to the arm, but cut straightways of the material with three very small puffs or bullions at the shoulder. The skirt of the dress is very long and without any trimming whatsoever at the bottom. Lace cap with long lappets falling as low as the waist - the borders, three in number, set out from the face and a small double puffing of the lace is seen on the crown of the head; a wreath of full blown roses without foliage goes entirely round the cap in front of the borders encircling the face. The hair is parted rather at the side and is brought low in bands, and turned up again. Straw colour kid gloves, gold bracelets, brooch and bouquet of violets.
Sitting figure, toilette d'Interieur - Dress of purple velvet, the corsage half high, demi décollettée en coeur in front, and fastened down the centre. Sleeves perfectly tight, cut like the sleeves of a man's coat in two pieces without the slightest fullness on the shoulder, a double tuck of the velvet, headed by a silk cord, and finished by two tassels put on the sleeve precisely at the small of the arm. Three rows of buttons ornament the front of the corsage, and a silk cordelière, with tassels, confines it at the waist. Lace cuffs, long black lace scarf trimmed all round with deep lace put on very full, blonde cap trimmed with blue satin ribbon and a wreath of blue flowers and long blonde lappets. White kid gloves, black satin shoes.

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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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