13e Cahier, 7e Suite, N.73
Gallerie des modes et costumes français. 13e Cahier des Costumes Français. 7e Suite d'Habillemens à la mode. N.73
ca. 1778
Designed by Pierre-Thomas Le Clerc (French, Paris 1740–1796); 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
The Circassienne
A variation of the robe à la polonaise, the robe à la circassienne (Circassian-style dress) had no direct link to traditional garments from Circassia, a historical region in Eastern Europe. Rather, it reflected the French fascination with the imagery of Circassian women, celebrated beauties in the harems of the Ottoman Empire.
Inscription
English: "This robe à la circassienne of a new style, is made of sulfur-colored gauze, the trim is made of soft lilac gauze; the large flounce and the band that run through the trimming are made of the same gauze as the dress, as is the fabric of the sabot sleeves; only the piped bands on the trimming are lilac, along with the lilac ribbons, even the one in the headdress."
French: "Cette Robe à la Circassienne d'un nouveau gout, est de gaze couleur de soufre, la garniture de gaze lilas tendre; le grand falbala et le bandeau qui règne dans la garniture est la même gaze que la robe, le fond des sabot aussi; il n'y a que les bandes de garnitures à tuyaux qui soient lilas, les rubans lilas, même celui de la coëffure."