If you could make garb to match a portrait........

[Lady L]

I agree, that painted recreation is quite amazing! Do you know what kind of paint they used on that? Is it washable or drycleanable?

[operafantomet]

Incidentally, it's interesting to read all the different discussions of this portrait that are available. The professor said in my 16th c art class that this portrait was painted by Nicholas Hilliard and that Elizabeth Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, embroidered the forepart. But of course, this is academia, and nothing is that cut-and-dried, so you get researchers who say that the painter might NOT have been Hilliard (or his crew), and there is evidence that the forepart might have been painted instead of embroidered. I don't know if we'll ever *really* find out, but that painted recreation was truly stunning. Good stuff!

Problem with (art history) academia dealing with historical clothing is that once a truth has been established, it takes decades to get rid of it. I'm working on a MA in art history now, and I won't even start to tell you all the times I've come across otherwise brilliant Bronzino researchers claiming that Eleonora di Toledo was buried in her famous 1545 dress ( http://www.geocities.com/pisslei/eleonoraditoledo )... It's enough for one researcher to claim such a "truth", and once established it will be quoted over and over again, and newer researchers will quote one who quotes one who quotes one etc...

Not saying the statement about the embroidery isn't true! I have no idea. But it can also be that one brainbox with good imagination in the 19.th century wrote a plausible theory on it, and that it's become one of those things others just quote, because they've read it somewhere, sometime...

[DonaCatalina]

In response to the comment that weaving techniques in the Renaissance weren't that
sophisticated.
As the Marquesa de Villafranca, Eleonora de Toledo's dowry included revenues from textile manufacturing in the district. Many of her dresses are estimated to be products of that industry and include woven and embroidered fabrics.

[Syrilla]

My words were may have been mis-understood. 

"The weaving of the time was very fine, but I do not think they had the skill or technology to produces such fine details in satin.  Look at tapestry, they are detailed, but not so sharply detailed.  "

There are many wonderful examples of detailed woven fabrics.  Most fabric are in the floral and geometric patterns.  There are others with animal and human, from that "medieval" era.  I was stating that I do not believe they could do that fine of work in the satin weaving.

[Kate XXXXXX]

One of the things we tend to forget these days is just how good those weavers were.  They produced stuff on hand looms that we still cannot imitate with our fancy electronics!   

Having seen some of the old textiles in places like the V&A and the Museum of London, I wouldn't rule out anything...  Some of the satin brocades from China are incredibly intricate and detailed, even from so long ago.  We have lost a lot of the knowledge that went into the making of some of these textiles.

[operafantomet]

Having seen some of the old textiles in places like the V&A and the Museum of London, I wouldn't rule out anything...  Some of the satin brocades from China are incredibly intricate and detailed, even from so long ago.  We have lost a lot of the knowledge that went into the making of some of these textiles.

We've also lost the crazy rich people who were willing to pay for them...

[Kate XXXXXX]

Having seen some of the old textiles in places like the V&A and the Museum of London, I wouldn't rule out anything...  Some of the satin brocades from China are incredibly intricate and detailed, even from so long ago.  We have lost a lot of the knowledge that went into the making of some of these textiles.

We've also lost the crazy rich people who were willing to pay for them...

And most of the folk willing to work at intricate handwork like this for all the daylight hours if the year for 40 years...

I do know where to find the folk who STILL do nothing but hand stitch buttonholes for west end tailors.  Mad...   

[Syrilla]

I do digress, and acknowledge that that fine of weaving May have been possible. To the gown in question, I still hold that it was stained/painted. Yes, the Asian art's were amazing, but they were less known in the English parts. 

As it has been stated, many of the technique and knowledge is, sadly, lost to us.

[mollymishap]

I just stumbled across this portrait and I'm in LOOOOVE with the simplicity and elegance of her bodice contrasted with the fine cuttes on the sleeves.  It's a Bronzino ("young woman with a prayer book" or something like that)...I have some rust colored fabric that might work for a recreation of that gown...

AND if I were a man, I'd just JUMP at the chance to make this for myself: another Bronzino (Portrait of a young man).  Again, so simple, yet so complex!

BUT I have to finish my repro Ditchley Portrait gown first...it's been ages...and I'm still working on those damned poufs...

[DonaCatalina]

I just stumbled across this portrait and I'm in LOOOOVE with the simplicity and elegance of her bodice contrasted with the fine cuttes on the sleeves.  It's a Bronzino ("young woman with a prayer book" or something like that)...I have some rust colored fabric that might work for a recreation of that gown...

I agree that this would make a lovely dress. The contrasting trim and all the slashing make this a standout.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I'm not often tempted to make exact copied of things (I prefer to use them for inspiration and have more design input myself, but that's just a personal preference), but I might make an exception for that one...  I've seen some pewter coloured silk taffeta recently that would be perfect...

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

And you kick yourself in the bum, Kate, if you do not snatch up that Silk Taffeta while it is available!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Nah, Joel & Son, Pongee's, Beresford Silk, Henry Bertrand, or one of the others will have something similar...  There are advantages to living this close to London, and having a telephone!     Costs and arm and a leg, mind, but hey, for such a project I could save up...

[Madge Estes]

I am loving those sheer sleeves.  They would be so nice in hot weather.  Adding that one to the list of gowns to make!

I found some gorgeous sheer material for a partlet, lightly embroidered with vines and purple flowers.  A blessing on hot fair days!

[operafantomet]

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~rowen/renbk/ghirlandaio2.jpg
This painting is one by Domenico Ghirlandaio-- it's part of The Birth of Saint John the Baptist, I believe. I love the pink gown on the far left. I think those are flowers? It's stunning, whatever they are. I have zero sewing skill (my grandma had to make my current costume haha) but if I did...

I have a slightly bigger picture online, here:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze1/ghirlandaio1486f.jpg

The "flowers" at the side looks similar to decorations Burgundian Houppelandes could have on the sleeves, like here:
http://www.geocities.com/soho/coffeehouse/6572/houppelande.jpg
http://www.hobbitronics.com/images/womens/houppenande-02.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cpToIwY89Rc/SWEi6VEy9MI/AAAAAAAABH8/h0g5M3OsQ50/s1600-h/houppelande.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/415px-Houppelande_damski.jpg

I think it's merely fabric cut into various shapes (in your case, "flowers"). It might not be hard to make, but it looks like a time-consuming task.