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FRENCH CREOLE FASHION PLATE, LA GALERIE DES MODES c1779
A beautiful ORIGINAL hand-colored engraving on laid paper, and one of the earliest FASHION PRINTS detached from the extremely rare book from Paris, France: “Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français dessinés d'après nature. 27e Cahier de Costumes Français, 21e Suite d'Habillemens à la mode en 1779. cc.161 "Vêtement dit à la Créole..."
The artist was Pierre Thomas Le Clerc (ca. 1740-ca. 1796), the engraver was Charles Emmanuel Jean Baptiste Patas, French (1744–1802) & the publishers were Jacques Esnauts and Michel Rapilly (18th century).
Beneath the figure is printed:
“Vêtement dit à la Créole, composé de celui que portent nos Dames Françaises en Amérique : c'est une grande robe de mousseline, à manches justes qui se serrent au poignet ; la robe est un peu ajustée à la taille et dégagée autour de la gorge dans le goût d'une chemise : elle est cependant fortaisée et ouverte par devant ; on l'attache en haut avec une épingle lorsqu'on veut qu'elle joigne, et à la ceinture avec un ruban comme la Lévite ; par dessus un caraco à coqueluchon sans manches ; celles de la robe forment l'Amadis. Cette figure est coëffée d'un chapeau dit à la Grenade.”
Rough translation (Google):
“Garment said the Creole, composed of one worn by our French ladies in America: a large muslin dress, with sleeves that just shake the wrist, and the dress is slightly fitted at the waist and cleared around of the groove in the style of a shirt: it is however fortaisée and open in front, you tie up with a pin when it wants to join, and at the waist with a ribbon like the Levite, by over a camisole to coqueluchon sleeveless dress are those of the Amadis. This figure is coëffée a hat said to the Granada.”
Also printed on the engraving is: “Dessiné par Le Clerc,” “Gravé par Patas,” & “A Paris chez Esnauts et Rapilly rue St. Jacques a la Ville de Coutances A. P. D. R. [Avec privilege du Roi]”
La Gallerie des Modes was the first magazine entirely dedicated to fashion & was illustrated by many different artists.
“In 1778, two Parisian print sellers Jacques Esnauts and Michel Rapilly, joined forces and began to issue their La Galerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, a publication of coloured fashion plates. They are often credited with the creation of colored prints depicting contemporary fashion for men and women. Between 1778 and 1787 they in total, issued some 342 figure plates and some 72 hat plates, all published at spasmodic intervals. In 1787, La Galerie des Modes ceased production. The complete work is exceptionally scarce in original form even among museum collections, with the main (incomplete) copy of the collection held at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.”
This attractive 230+ year-old fashion engraving measures about 11 x 14”. It has a ½” tear down from the top edge and some minimal damage to the upper left corner (see scan of front, back & enlarged detail). The print may have darkened somewhat over the years, which should also be judge-able from the scan. Otherwise this old engraving appears to be in good condition on old laid paper of good rag content.
Price= $150.00
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