18th century blog

Marie Antoinette (1938)
I really liked this movie. It focuses mostly on the revolution and the latter part of Marie Antoinette’s life, and everything before is kind of rushed by. The second half of the movie is also the best part. I would have really loved it if they put as much focus on the “happy” part of her life as well since that is my favourite part, but the sad part kind of makes up for it.

I loved Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette, she behaved very much like I imagine the real Antoinette. And I think she looked a bit like the original as well. She was really the best thing about the movie. I felt the portrayal of Louis XVI was a bit too comical in comparison to the rest of the movie, his acting didn’t fit in with the others.

The costumes are not that historically correct for the most part, but I don’t really care because they’re absolutely gorgeous. It’s a very beautiful movie. More pictures after the cut.

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Portrait by Jean-Louis Voille.

Empress consort of Russia Maria Feodorovna on Wikipedia.

More portraits after the cut.

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Portrait by Joshua Reynolds.

Poet, novelist and the first public mistress of George IV. Mary Robinson on Wikipedia.

More portraits after the cut.

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British portrait painter Joshua Reynolds on Wikipedia.

More of his paintings after the cut.

Edit: Updated this post with new paintings and better quality pictures.

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The Madness of King George is a good movie, but fashion wise it’s not extremely interesting. There are only a few scenes with lavish court dress, and the rest is pretty much the king in his underwear. It’s still worth seeing for those few bits of court fashion though, lots of big hair! And Lady Pembroke is really gorgeous.

A few more pictures after the cut.

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Georgiana on Wikipedia.

More portraits of Georgiana after the cut.

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British portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough on Wikipedia.

See more Gainsborough paintings after the cut.

Edit: Updated this post with new and better quality pictures.

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Probably 1780’s. Text accompanying the first picture:

Redingote of lemon yellow fabric with apple green stripes. Slit sleeves á la marinière (without cuffs) and chapeau bonnet.

Costume Antique
This German site has lists of links to existing clothes from the 18th century, for both men and women. Click “Kleidung der Dame” and “Kleidung des Mannes”, to go to the lists.

Edit: The website has been updated and has a new address.

Trosseau
Antique clothing for sale. Very expensive of course, but great for photos.

Some excerpts from a program about an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art called The 18th century woman, in 1982. The host is Marisa Berenson and the woman being interviewed is Diana Vreeland. More after the cut.

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