'Opera Costume', March 1826

1 portrait by William Read

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'Opera Costume', March 1826

probably by William Read, published by George Byrom Whittaker, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 1 March 1826
8 1/2 in. x 5 1/4 in. (215 mm x 133 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D47580

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This portraitback to top

Described in the issue for March 1826:
Over a white satin petticoat is worn a tunique robe of tulle; the petticoat trimmed round the border with a tulle flounce, doubled in bias and set on in fluted plaits: this flounce is surmounted by a rouleau of white satin, and an ornament composed of tulle, entwined with narrow satin rouleaux; the ornament hollow, and arranged en tirebouchon. The tunique robe is trimmed round with three narrow, separate rouleaux of satin, and is girt round the waist with a rich silk cord, with superb tassels depending from the ends, which fall over the front of the skirt, till they nearly touch the flouce. Over this elegant dress is worn a Pyrenean cloak of lavendar blue satin, trimmed round with swan's-down, and finished at the throat by a broad collerette of the same fur; a large cape falls over the shoulders, trimmed round with swan's-down; and at the arm-holes of the cloak are mancheron sleeves, to be taken on and off at pleasure. The hair is arranged in large curls, with a plume of white ostrich feathers. A necklace of pearls, composed of several rows, is the only ornament worn with this dress.

Events of 1826back to top

Current affairs

Riots break out in Lancashire against the use of the power loom, invented by Edmund Cartwright. The looms were gradually being introduced across the country, replacing large numbers of manual workers.

Art and science

Thomas Telford's Menai Straits and Conway Suspension Bridges open, the largest of their kind at the time.

International

Carl Weber arrives to live in England after his opera Der Freischutz is the hit of the London season.

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