Marie-Antoinette with Uncolored (!!!) Hair by François Dumond There’s no date, but I’d say this is late 1770s, especially because she looks so young; it could also be early 1780s (zone fronts were popular in this period). Wasn’t she beautiful? I love her delicately arched eyebrows.

Marie-Antoinette with Uncolored (!!!) Hair by François Dumond

There’s no date, but I’d say this is late 1770s, especially because she looks so young; it could also be early 1780s (zone fronts were popular in this period). Wasn’t she beautiful? I love her delicately arched eyebrows.

Marie-Antoinette by Vigée-Lebrun (of course), 1788 Le reine de mode! J’adore le bordure de fourrure.

Marie-Antoinette by Vigée-Lebrun (of course), 1788

Le reine de mode! J’adore le bordure de fourrure.

Marie Antoinette en Chemise by Madame Vigée-Le Brun, 1783 My art history professor claims that Jacques-Louis David is responsible for the shift in fashion from the ornate, structured eighteenth century garments to classically-inspired, columnal gowns of the Regency period - but I, however, credit this woman right here. I daresay a woman in power and in the public spotlight had much more stylistic influence than a man painting Roman women on the sidelines of his history paintings, no matter how beautifully rendered his paintings or how popular he was! Just as a kicker, this portrait predates David’s Oath of the Horatii, showing women in Roman garb, by one year. EDIT: I meant my prof. is claiming David brought about the shift to EMPIRE/REGENCY style dresses, not that he caused the chemise/gaulle dress trend. My point is that M-A’s initial popularization of the gaulle dress gradually transformed into a more relaxed, simple, and classical mode of fashion that we see in the very late 18th century and first quarter of the 19th century. There were also other factors, like an adoration of classicism (history of the Roman republic, Latin and Greek language, Roman and Greek authors, etc.) in general, and of course the French Revolution’s condemnation of overtly gaudy representation as debased. I don’t know about you, but if my noble friends were being killed as disgustingly ornate examples of society’s downfall, I’d tone down my dress a little too!

Marie Antoinette en Chemise by Madame Vigée-Le Brun, 1783

My art history professor claims that Jacques-Louis David is responsible for the shift in fashion from the ornate, structured eighteenth century garments to classically-inspired, columnal gowns of the Regency period - but I, however, credit this woman right here. I daresay a woman in power and in the public spotlight had much more stylistic influence than a man painting Roman women on the sidelines of his history paintings, no matter how beautifully rendered his paintings or how popular he was!

Just as a kicker, this portrait predates David’s Oath of the Horatii, showing women in Roman garb, by one year.

EDIT: I meant my prof. is claiming David brought about the shift to EMPIRE/REGENCY style dresses, not that he caused the chemise/gaulle dress trend. My point is that M-A’s initial popularization of the gaulle dress gradually transformed into a more relaxed, simple, and classical mode of fashion that we see in the very late 18th century and first quarter of the 19th century. There were also other factors, like an adoration of classicism (history of the Roman republic, Latin and Greek language, Roman and Greek authors, etc.) in general, and of course the French Revolution’s condemnation of overtly gaudy representation as debased. I don’t know about you, but if my noble friends were being killed as disgustingly ornate examples of society’s downfall, I’d tone down my dress a little too!

Marie Antoinette by Krantzinger, c. 1771

Marie Antoinette by Krantzinger, c. 1771

vivelareine: A red velvet dress designed by Rose Bertin for Marie Antoinette in 1787.

vivelareine:

A red velvet dress designed by Rose Bertin for Marie Antoinette in 1787.

styleite: These are (maybe) Marie Antoinette’s 300-year-old shoes.

styleite:

These are (maybe) Marie Antoinette’s 300-year-old shoes.

arkhangelskoye: Drawing of Marie Antoinette, about 1785, ink and color on paper

arkhangelskoye:

Drawing of Marie Antoinette, about 1785, ink and color on paper

vivelareine: An engraving of Adelaide Ristori, an Italian actress, as Marie Antoinette.

vivelareine:

An engraving of Adelaide Ristori, an Italian actress, as Marie Antoinette.

vivelareine: A portrait of Marie Antoinette by Marie Victoire Jaquotot, circa 1818

vivelareine:

A portrait of Marie Antoinette by Marie Victoire Jaquotot, circa 1818

vivelareine: Marie Antoinette en Gaulle, 1783 Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun I’ve always thought that Marie Antoinette should be credited with the beginning of Regency fashions based on this portrait. She revolutionized the simple look that followed in the next period of dress.

vivelareine:

Marie Antoinette en Gaulle, 1783

Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

I’ve always thought that Marie Antoinette should be credited with the beginning of Regency fashions based on this portrait. She revolutionized the simple look that followed in the next period of dress.


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