"A Song Sweetly Sung" by Dutch painter Jan Frederik Pieter Portielje
The painting shows us a mother and daughter listening to their pet bird singing. The mother is wearing a beautiful sheer overdress, detailed with insertion lace, and sheer ruffles edged in lace. A lavender under dress gives it a soft glow of color. Pretty silk bows decorate the sides of her trained skirt.
"Toilette", oil on canvas, painted by Jules James Rougeron in 1877.
The end of the first bustle era, This beautiful pink ensemble consists of a bodice with a peplum, edged with rose trim. The same trim is added to the cuffs and around the neck. The double layered over skirt with rose trim ties with a large bow, the ends of which are fringed. The trained, ruffled skirt has white bows and a balayeuse (dust ruffle) peeps out from underneath.
"Traveler (Bridesmaid)" by James Tissot, c1884.
Natural form era walking length outfit. Bustles were out of fashion, and skirts were worn with a petticoat or two. A small pad was sometimes used to lift the trains and ruffles in back.This pretty dress has the long cuirass bodice over a tight, multi-tiered skirt.
"Portrait of an Elegant Lady" by Francois Brunery, oil on canvas, 1889.
This beautiful late bustle era gown shows us the large, jutting bustle of the mid 80s. The front of her gown is beaded, and rose garlands cascade down the sides. She carries a feather fan.
"Portrait of a Lady with Pink Rose" Clemens Brewer 1883.
This is a pretty natural form era outfit, just before the second bustle era began. White cuirass bodice with blue pleated trim, and an overskirt with side pleats and blue bows.
"Women on a Balcony" by Frederic Soulacroix, mid-1880’s
Pretty white "tea cart" bustle skirt with a draped, split front over skirt. The white bodice has pleats around the bottom to allow it to fit over the bustle. The grey bodice may have a faux white vest, as this style was popular during this time period.
James Tissot, "Les Demoiselles De Province"
Beautiful natural form era ball gowns, c 1878-1882 The Cuirass bodices are long, and very close to the body on the pink and white gowns. The pink bodice looks laced down the back, while the white one buttons down the front. All three dresses are covered in frothy sheer ruffles from the knees down, while tightly ruched around the hips. Floral sprays adorn the skirts.
Ángel María Cortellini Hernández oil on canvas 1855 "Portrait of a Lady"
A lovely dress of dark pink satin. Each flounce of the skirt is hand painted in gold. There were multiple petticoats holding the skirt out. The bodice has gold bows down the front, and the same bows run down the front of the skirt. Pretty pointed lace edges the three flounces and down the front of the bodice.
"Portrait of a Lady in Satin Dress" by Bolesław Łaszczyński, 1882.
An ivory and pale pink brocade bodice decorated with pink satin bows and trim, with a pink satin, a split over skirt in the same brocade, over a pleated skirt. She has a shawl, gloves and fan as her accessories.
Portrait of Mrs Lockett Agnew, Sir Samuel Luke Fildes, 1887-88
Her outfit is in a lovely ivory striped fabric, with gold under bodice and matching gold buttons and bows. This attire is called "Directoire Revival", which revives the riding habit look of the 1790s, complete with tall hat adorned with ostrich feathers.
Submitted by Shenandoah Rose
