꧁ Gowns in Art ꧂
Ep. 1 with Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Via the colour or other comparable aspect of the gown &/or painting – I will first pair a fine art painting from Robbie’s collection, then one from my collection, .
White Gowns
Jeune Femme se Poudrant – by Berthe Morisot – French (1841 – 1895)
Berthe Morisot‘s only daughter, Julie, inspired the many paintings, which documented the lives of women. The painting below is one of those paintings. It hangs in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
Fortunate to have a genuine art education, Morisot studied under Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. In the 1860s, Morisot became a professional friend of Edouard Manet.
From1864 – 1870, she showed regularly at the Paris Salon.
In 1874, Morisot exhibited with the Société Anonyme des Artistes-Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs, the first Impressionist exhibit.
In December, 1874 she married Eugène Manet (brother of Edouard Manet).
Achieving significant recognition during her lifetime, in 1887 her work showed at George Petit’s International Exhibition in Paris and Paul Durand-Ruel’s exhibition of Impressionist painting in New York.
Mrs. Wells as “Hebe” – James Northcote – British (1746 – 1831)
James Northcote was a writer as well as a painter of predominantly portraits. Largely self taught, he studied under and worked for Sir Joshua Reynolds. He became a member of The Royal Academy in 1787.
At this time in history, allegorical artworks portraying people as mythological or historical figures were the height of fashion.
A Child’s Gown
Portrait of Clara Alewijn – Dirk van Santvoort – Netherlands (1610-1680)
Dirk van Santvoort was a prominent painter of children circa the mid seventeenth century. Clara Alewijn, the subect of the portrait below, was van Santvoort’s sister.
He likely studied under his farther – Dirck Pietersz. Bontepaert. None of the father’s work weathered time. After becoming wealthy, Van Santvoort ceased painting. He became the Dean of the Painters’ Guild and was an assessor of paintings.
Portrait of a Young Girl with Carnations – Jan Albertsz. Rotius – Netherlands (1615-1674)
Jan Albertsz. Rotius (aka Rootgies) was a portrait and still life painter
He had 7 children, of which only 3 survived to adulthood. His son Jacob Rotius, became a successful painter of flowers.
Feels Antediluvian
Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman – Sandro Botticelli – Italian (1445-1510)
Botticelli, a draughtsman and painter, began painting religious frescoes before opening his own studio circa 1470.
Prior to opening his studio he apprenticed in the studio of Fra Filipo Lippi, then worked with Antonio del Pollaiuolo. Botticelli spent most his life in service of the Medici family and their clique.
Aka Gioo degli Albizzi Receiving a Gift of Flowers from Venus, this fabulous fresco resides in the Louvre since 1882.
Found again in Italy in 1873, it is believed he used the patron’s daughter, possibly on her wedding engagement, for this allegorical image.
Botticelli’s name almost vanished from art circles until the late 19th century. At that time an esteem for the Florentine arts and culture renewed a look at his creations.
Initiation to Study – Two Young Ladies – Odilon Redon – French (1840-1916)
Bertrand-Jean Redon was a Symbolist painter, as well as a print maker.
At 15, his father made him switch from drawing to architecture. Later, he enjoyed sculpture and was instructed in etching and lithography by Rodolphe Bresdin.
He joined the army during the Franco-Prussian War, putting his career on hold.
Redon was still mostly unknown until in 1884, when a novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans titled, À rebours, featured a debauched aristocrat who collected Redon’s drawings.
A catalogue of his etchings and lithographs, published in 1913, caused his popularity to increase.
“My drawings inspire, and are not to be defined. They place us, as does music, in the ambiguous realm of the undetermined.” – REDON
The Lady Wears Black
La Dame aux éventails – Édouard Manet – French – 1832-1883
Manet emerged from wealth. He studied at the studio of artist Thomas Couture, then began copying paintings at the Louvre. Manet, inspired by the work of Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, chose a non academic free manner of loose brushwork.
He married Suzanne Leenhoff in 1863. She modelled for at least 13 of his paintings, but not for Olympia. Exhibited at the 1865 Salon, this parody of the classic Venus created a vicious scandal, making Manet the de facto leader of the avant-garde.
Oriental Poppies – Laura Muntz Lyall – Canadian (1860-1930)
Born in England, Laura Muntz Lyall immigrated to Canada at the age of 9 years. The first Canadian artist to receive honourable mention at the Paris Salon, she is also the first female Canadian Impressionist artist to have her work become part of the National Gallery of Canada.
Laura Muntz-Lyall studied in London, Toronto and Paris. She supported herself in Paris by teaching English. Prior to moving to Montreal in 1906, where she ran a prominent studio at Beaver Hall Square, she taught art at Toronto’s Havargal College.
The Red Gown
The Jewish Bride aka Isaac and Rebecca – Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1609)
Rembrandt attended Leiden University. Here he studied literature and history. He learned painting from Jacob Van Swanenburgh, then apprenticed in Amsterdam with history painter Pieter Lastman.
Later in his life, Rembrandt’s wife and some of their children died, leaving him in a state of loss. Demand for his work declined, and he declared bankruptcy.
This canvas, which he said brought him to tears, was painted later in Rembrandt’s career, when he was considered in artistic decline.
Ironically, this era yielded many of his most revered works, when rich earth tones ran from thinly painted areas to thick impasto.
“…Hang this picture in a bright light and in such a manner that it can be viewed from a distance. It will then sparkle at its best. “ – Rembrandt
I’m Half Sick of Shadows, Said the Lady of Shalott – John William Waterhouse – English (1849-1917)
John William Waterhouse was born in Rome, prior to his parents moving back to England in the 1850’s. His paintings’ early classical themes gave way to genre paintings in the late 1870’s.
By 1888, Waterhouse’s paintings reveal a growing interest in Pre-Raphaelite themes. He developed a penchant for ladies of tragic circumstance or femmes fatales. In 1901 he joined the St John’s Wood Arts Club. Here he served on the Art School advisory council.
Based on Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem – “The Lady of Shalott” is from the legends of King Arthur and his court at Camelot. The Lady of Shalott, aka Elaine Astolat, suffers a curse. Trapped in a tower, she may not look out the window. She observe’s the world through a window-facing mirror, weaving what she sees.
Waterhouse and his wife, Esther, married in 1883. She outlived him by 27 years.
“I’m Half Sick of Shadows, Said the Lady of Shalott” is inspired by the first 2 verses in part II.
PART II
No time hath she to sport and play:
A charmed web she weaves away.
A curse is on her, if she stay
Her weaving, either night or day,
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be;
Therefore she weaveth steadily,
Therefore no other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.
But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often thro' the silent nights
A funeral with plumes and lights
And music came from Camelot:
Or when the moon was overhead
Came two young lovers lately wed;
"I'm half sick of shadows," said
The Lady of Shalott.
Read entire poem at the POETRY FOUNDATION.
Roberta Eaton Cheadle
A prolific creator of art, poetry and prose, Robbie is the Bloggers’ Blogger. Her 2 blogs Roberta Writes and Robbie’s Inspiration will not just entertain, but sweep you around the blogiverse, where she shares a multitude of topics with her many blog pals. – Resa McConaghy
A Big Thank You to Robbie for joining me with her contribution of photos.
Photos of: Jeune Femme se Poudrant, Portrait of Clara Alewijn, Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman, La Dame aux éventails, The Jewish Bride aka Isaac and Rebecca -Are All Taken by and ©️ Roberta Eaton Cheadle.
About the Header Image
Harriet Boulton Smith (1825-1909) willed her art collection and residence, The Grange – “to serve as the first home of the Art Museum of Toronto. Built in 1817, the Grange is a national historic site,” – now part of the AGO
Please click on the below painting by Louise-Adéone Drölling, to view all research links.
NO AI was used in the research or preparation of this post.
Art Gowns 
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