Today I have a few more fashion plates from the time of Marie Antoinette. This handful of French fashions are from around the years 1776-1778. I love the fact that several show the back view of the garment so we get a better understanding of what some of these amazing dresses looked like from the rear view. My favorite of these is of a style known as "Robe à la Française" or a Sack-Back dress. I had some fun taking that image, creating a variety of colorized PNGs and then using the Aqua Version to create another of my artscenes. "Lady with a Letter" Digital scene I created using an altered 1778 French Fashion Plate of a Sack-Back Gown I enjoy creating digital art using subjects that face away from the viewer, like the one above. This scene is left a bit vague since there does not appear to be anything to view from the archway. I like to think that at any moment the "fog" might clear to revel a beautiful setting but it's up to the viewer as to what that might be - Paris, London, beautiful mountains, a water scene... **************** A few French Fashion Plates from the 1770's c1776 French Fashion Plate Dress in the style of "Robe à la Polonaise" There were many variations on the Polonaise style this is just one of them. c1776 French Fashion Plate This dress is in the style of "Robe à l'Anglaise" (Anglaise = English/American version with a bustle rather than pannier hoops and a draped back that begins at the lower "v" portion on the back of the bodice where the skirt begins ) For more information on this style click HERE c1776 French Fashion Plate - Back View This dress is in the style of "Robe à l'Anglaise" (Anglaise = English/American version with a bustle rather than pannier hoops and a draped back that begins at the lower "v" portion on the back of the bodice where the skirt begins ) For more information on this style click HERE 1776 French Fashion Plate - Back View Back view of a dress in the style of "Robe a la Cirassienne" which is a version of the "Robe à la Polonaise". "Cirassienne" is a specific looking version of the "Polonaise". The Cirassienne has more elaborate decorations; specifically trim such as fur or tassels, which distinguish it from the typical Polonaise. c1778 French Fashion Plate This dress is in the style of "Robe à l'Anglaise" (Anglaise = English/American version with a bustle rather than pannier hoops and a draped back that begins at the lower "v" portion on the back of the bodice where the skirt begins ) For more information on this style click HERE c1778 French Fashion Plate Dress in the style of Caraco or Casaquin There were a wide variety of bodice and skirt combinations possible at this time. Here is an example where the bodice portion is in the "Caraco" style. (Bodice style with the look of a fitted jacket that has a peplum skirting effect to it.) How the pleats fell in the back determined if it was a Caraco or Casaquin; similar to the difference between the "Robe a la Francaise" and the "Robe a l'Anglaise" For more images on Caraco or Casaquin see HERE HERE and HERE For pictures and more information on the difference between the two visit American Duchess blog HERE (a great resource on Historical Costumes) 1778 French Fashion Plate - Back View In the style of "Robe à la Française or Sack-Back dress. (Francaise = French version with the wide Pannier hoops and the long draped back) The bonnet is a l'Anglaise and has a more Colonial American look to it. Another good link on late 18th century fashions - click HERE This image just "speaks" to me; so she's the one I choose to turn into a PNG and create several colorized versions to play with. I hope you enjoy her and find lots of fun uses for her in you artwork too. The PNGs Here she is close to the original colors I did change the color or her ribbon and fan a bit rather than leaving it all original. I hope you don't mind. (I liked her so much that she is also the image on my "Email Me" button) Yellow Version Green Version Aqua Version - I used this version in my artscene Periwinkle Version Lavender Version Peach Version Silver Version Pink Version Here is one more look at the artscene I created using the Aqua Version of this 1778 fashionable lady. "Lady with a Letter" by EKDuncan 2012 I find this scene peaceful and think of it as a contemplative piece that tells a small part of the story; which the viewer gets to complete using their own imagination. She is a lady with a letter but since you can't see her facial expression you have to wonder what she is feeling. Does the letter bring good news or sad? Is the letter from a husband, lover, brother, sister, or someone else? Is the letter recently received or is from a long time ago? I can imagine all kinds of scenarios for this lovely lady, her setting and what the letter contains... How about you? Please feel free to leave a comment, I'd love to hear your interpretation of the scene or how it makes you feel. till next time...