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

[DonaCatalina]

This is another one I'd love to do. It looks so comfortable.

[Sorcha]

Oh!  The red dress is lovely!  I'd love to know more about the portrait.  Anyone?

[nliedel]

And I've given serious thought to Caravaggio's St. Catherine:



I'm basing my ren gown on that portrait this year, sort of. I can't do the blackwork, but I can get the basic shape and the fullness of the skirt, it's what I based one of my sketches on. Don't expect the portrait. I'm not nearly on par with most of you.

[Athena]

Oh!  The red dress is lovely!  I'd love to know more about the portrait.  Anyone?

Two Venetian Ladies by Vittore Carpaccio ca. late fifteenth or early sixteenth century

I agree with you Sorcha! I love that red gown!

[Mythrin]

My daughter and I are planning on attempting this project if time allows this summer.

This is Sybil of Cleeves, the older sister of Anne of Cleeves briefly the German wife of Henry the VIII

[CapnFayeCutler]

Sadly we can't see the rest of this gown, but I'm sure I could do something that went well with the part we *can* see. Now I just gotta grow my hair out. This gown just looks fun!

[Arsinoe Selene]

Just in case anybody is interested: http://www.artchive.com/

You can search for an artist, time period, or area.

I'm not good enough at sewing to re-create a dress, but I aspire to.

[FaireMare]

Sadly we can't see the rest of this gown, but I'm sure I could do something that went well with the part we *can* see. Now I just gotta grow my hair out. This gown just looks fun!

AH Elizabeth of Bohemia.... the bases for my daughter's new dress as the princess of Romania.

[Cilean]

I am currently working on this project, I am using silver instead of gold so as soon as it is done I will post pics!




I have 10 yards of black cotton velveteen and 24 yards of cording and I will couch it down.
so I hope it will be awesome!

Cilean

[CapnFayeCutler]

AH Elizabeth of Bohemia....

Exactly! I'm sure your daughter will be lovely in that kind of gown! 

I think I'm drawn to it because of her hair just being wild and freeflowing... which kind of reminds me of the "Bohemian" look that was popular a year or two ago. (Which I still love hehehe)

[gem]

Cilean, you should consult with Lady Kathleen of Olmstead; she's done a spot-on recreation of that exact portrait.

**
I have a new one!  This is mostly in the realm of "Oh, god, wouldn't that be STUNNING?" than the realm of anything I'll actually ever *do,* but it's fun to imagine how it might be done.

Galizia's Judith (unfortunately, the biggest pic I could find online).  Italian, c. 1590:



Some details:



Beyond the trim and the unbelievable beadwork on those straps, I am absolutely in love with that camica. SWOON!!  Are we at all surprised this was painted by a woman?

[CountessofPhoenix]

Never gave it much thought til reading this thread. OMG I think I'm in love. Will have to research the perfect gown.

[Ottheinrich]

Cilean, you should consult with Lady Kathleen of Olmstead; she's done a spot-on recreation of that exact portrait.

**
I have a new one!  This is mostly in the realm of "Oh, god, wouldn't that be STUNNING?" than the realm of anything I'll actually ever *do,* but it's fun to imagine how it might be done.

Galizia's Judith (unfortunately, the biggest pic I could find online).  Italian, c. 1590:

Is she holding someones head?

[gem]

Yeah, it's Judith.  She's always pictured holding the severed head of Holofernes.  My other favorite Judith portrait is the one by Caravaggio.  I just love the expression on her face--not horror, not fear, not rage or triumph... just a mild distaste, as if she's gutting a fish, not beheading her mortal enemy and saving the Israelites.

[sealion]

OMG gem! That is a gorgeous gown! Will you plese post the link to it?