43e Cahier, 38e Suite, ZZ.276

Fashion plate showing a seated woman in a green dress.

Gallerie des modes et costumes français. 43e Cahier de Costumes Français. 38e Suite d'Habillemens à la mode, en 1784. ZZ.276
ca. 1784
Designed by François Louis Joseph Watteau (French, Valenciennes 1758–1823); engraved by Nicholas Dupin (French, act. 1776–89)
Hand-colored engraving
Approx. 11 1/2 × 17 in. (29.2 × 43.2 cm)
Frick Art Research Library; Gift of Melinda Martin Sullivan, 2016
Image Frick Digital Studio

 

Perfect Love
The voluminous skirt of the seated lady is scrunched up in the back—the reality of wearing glamorous gowns in the eighteenth century. While savoring her "perfect love," a type of sweet liquor, she shows off her luscious curls. Her hairstyle was inspired by Louise Contat, a trendsetting actress who rose to fame playing the lead role in the play The Marriage of Figaro in 1784.

Inscription
English: "A voluptuous beauty, consuming parfait amour in turn with ices, while waiting for pleasures more worthy of her; her hair is made up in the style called à la Contat, and her dress is in the English style."

French: "La Beauté voluptueuse, prenant alternativement du parfait amour et des glaces, en attendant des plaisirs plus dignes d'elle; sa coëffure est à la Contat, et sa robe à l'Angloise."