Variations of a theme, recurring masquerade costumes

Look at enough paintings and you will find that some costumes return again and again. Like the charming Harlequina in her patchwork clothes.

Minuet by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo 1758



Portrait of a lady. Circle of Antoine Pesne 

Of course, they may be paintings of the actual play. Still, it is easy to see how the costumes would work very well for a masque as well.

Hester Booth in stage costume, ca. 1722-1725

Pierrot and Harlequinby Philipe Mercier



Arlecchino und Colombina - Giovanni Domenico Ferretti



Costume design, Schwarzenberg Collection of Theatrical Items and Repertoire



This jacket may or may not be a masquerade costume, it is catalouged merely as a jacket, but it doesn't seem unlikely, don't you think?

Patchwork jacket in silk, 1770-1790, Nordiska museet, Sweden

And these charming figurines are a great inspiration!



Meissen porcelain Harlequine figure







Harlequina by Franz Anton Bustelli ca. 1763



Harlequine by Franz Anton Bustelli, ca. 1760



A black costume with red/pink details, slashed sleeves and, often, a little cape can be seen on several portraits. I am sure they are meant to portray something specific, but I don't know what. It is very pretty, though.







Countess Anna Elisabeth von der Schulenburg-Beetzendorf by Antoine Pesne. As the Countess only lived 1720-1741, the painting must be from late 1730s-1741

I commented on the tricorne hat in yesterday's post, but as there is another one below, I just had to do it again.



Henriette Sophie Christine von Lüderitzby Christian Friedrich Reinhold Lisiewski

 

Another one of unknown origin. Sorry!

By Dmitrij Levitskij

Lady in Waiting in the court of King Frederick II by Antoine Pesne





I'm not really sure if these are masquerade costumes or just meant so be allergorical or just something romantic for a painting, but they are not ordinary fashion and quite interesting as well. Especially if you consider that these three span over at least 50 years and three different artists.



1731 Unknown lady by John Vanderbank, 1731 and Charlotte, Lady Milnes by George Romney, 1788-1792



Lady Margaret Oxenden by Joseph Wright of Derby, ca. 1760

Portrait of unknown lady as Diana by Pompeo Batoni, 1776.

Lady so and so as Diana are perhaps more allegorical than anything else and very popular. Nattier for example, seems to have really liked to paint ladies with a bow.

Madame de Pompadour as Diana by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1752

Madame Bouret as Diana by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1745

Charlotte Du Rietz af Hedensberg by Jakob Björck

Madame de Maison Rouge as Diana by Jean Marc Nattier, 1756

However, if you consider that one evidently could go as a "Wild man" on a costume ball in the 1770's, then I'm sure you could go, dressed rather similary, as Diana.





I have a feeling that these three are really dance costumes and being painted by the same artist may very well be the reason that they look a bit similar. They are really lovely, though.

By Dmitrij Levitskij

By Dmitrij Levitskij



By Dmitrij Levitskij







Pictures found at:

http://www.artita.ru/view-tiipolo-7

http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://loveisspeed.blogspot.se/

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagina_principale

http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_5nadvori_schsbi.xml

http://www.digitaltmuseum.se/

http://arttattler.com/archivejean-antoinewatteau.html#

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/

http://www.metmuseum.org/

http://www.gogmsite.net/

http://nevsepic.com.ua/art-i-risovanaya-grafika/3449-levickiy-dmitriy-grigorevich-1735-1822-9-rabot.html#

http://18thcenturyblog.com/

http://marie-antoinettequeenoffrance.blogspot.se/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://emuseumplus.lsh.se/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&moduleFunction=search&lang=sv