Painting Costume Analysis: Pamela Series, Part One

The novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, by Samuel Richardson, holds a special place in the western literary canon, as it marks the transition between adventure novels and character-based novels, and was extremely popular in its day, but it is now largely unknown outside of English literature classes.  The story is told in epistolary form, through … Continue reading Painting Costume Analysis: Pamela Series, Part One

Galerie des Modes, 10e Cahier, 5e Figure

Genteel woman at her toilette, folding a letter. (1778) Without extending here on the origin and antiquity of toilettes, we must confine ourselves to remark that a toilette is now an indispensable piece of furniture for all people; whether they have pretensions or are out of style. There are closed toilettes and dressed ones; the … Continue reading Galerie des Modes, 10e Cahier, 5e Figure

Galerie des Modes, 10e Cahier, 4e Figure

Middle class Actor studying his role while walking. (1778)  Though the Dress of Men is less varied than that of Women, yet the little-masters are come to spread a great diversity in material, in trims and accessories; informal suits felt the strangest and most changes: we have occasion to give one by the following detailed … Continue reading Galerie des Modes, 10e Cahier, 4e Figure