19th Century British Photographs

With an introduction by the 19th Century British Photographs from NGC exhibition curator Lori Pauli, and an essay by NGC Photographs Conservator, John McElhone, the catalogue documents the developments in photographic technologies in 19th-century Britain; from historically important paper negatives to platinum prints, works by Julia Margaret Cameron, William Henry Fox Talbot, Frederick Evans, Roger … Continue reading 19th Century British Photographs →

Thomas Gainsborough’s Notorious Women

The portraits of notorious society women painted by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) are considered among the greatest portraits of the Western tradition. Thomas Gainsborough and the Modern Woman is the first exhibition devoted to Gainsborough’s feminine portraiture and the first to focus specifically on modernity and femininity in Georgian England from the perspective of Gainsborough’s groundbreaking … Continue reading Thomas Gainsborough’s Notorious Women →

Underwear: Fashion in Detail

Get intimately acquainted with the V&A’s world-renowned collection of undergarments in this eye-opening visual history. From camisoles to corsets, basques to boudoir caps, Underwear: Fashion in Detail traces the peculiar evolution of underwear. Revealing photographs highlight close-up details in the garments, while intricate line drawings show their masterly construction. A wide range of designs is … Continue reading Underwear: Fashion in Detail →

Men, Women, and Clothes

A marvelous fashion documentary reveals what it took to be stylish throughout 200 years of British history as it explores men, women, and children’s costume from 1720 to 1957. These videos present a rare opportunity to view authentic period fashions and accessories from the 18th and 19th centuries modeled by real people in period settings. … Continue reading Men, Women, and Clothes →

The Tradition of Orange Blossoms

Queen Victoria is often credited with popularizing the tradition of orange blossoms with English, European, and American brides. Curator Jan Hiester of the Charleston Museum discusses this tradition and shares wax, paper, celluloid and kidskin examples from the Museums collection shown last year in the exhibit Aisle Style.

1820s Wedding Dress

Ackermann’s Repository of Fashions featured this wedding dress in August 1829.The round dress is of Brussels lace over a slip of white gros de Tours. The body of the slip is cut low and square while the corsage of the dress is made up to the throat and fastens to the back. It sets close … Continue reading 1820s Wedding Dress →

Rare Keats Love Letter

Keats wrote the letter – the only one of the 39 surviving letters to Fanny Brawne still in private hands – in 1820 when he was fatally ill with consumption (TB). Though Fanny lived next door to Keats their meetings were restricted by his health which also prevented even the most limited physical contact. Keats … Continue reading Rare Keats Love Letter →

It’s 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London . . . .

It’s 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London . . . .Bright Star is a period drama based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and his young Hampstead neighbor — the flirtatious, fashionable Fanny Brawne. The story centers on the last three years of Keats’ life before his untimely … Continue reading It’s 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London . . . . →

British Library Smartphone App

Home to the world’s knowledge and some of the rarest and most unique written and printed treasures, the British Library launched its first smartphone app. Created in conjunction with Toura, a leading technology platform for mobile guides, the ‘Treasures’ app, will present a rich selection of the items featured in the Library’s Sir John Ritblat … Continue reading British Library Smartphone App →

Jane Austen Bag

Who said you can’t take it with you? Now you can take just about everything with you … in style. Romance and Jane Austen fans will love this carry-all bag designed with art work from Mansfield Park by Charles Brock. Is your favorite Pride and Prejudice … Sense and Sensibility … Persuation? Whichever your favorite … Continue reading Jane Austen Bag →