Sunday, August 23, 2009

Yay or Nay? Miss Sarah Rodbard

Last week we were almost close to a unanimous agreement: Yay on the outfit, Nay on the face. Poor Princess Luisa. Perhaps we've spent too much time with royalty, or maybe just Hapsburgs. Let's try something different and judge a title-less British lady on her ability to pull together an outfit.


George Romney paints Sarah Rodbard (1784), in a simple, long-sleeved white gown, complete with gold shoulder accents and a pale blue ribbon around the waist.

[National Museums Liverpool]

27 comments:

  1. YAY! Lovely.

    Why weren't there more portraits of Georgiana?
    I love these postings!

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  2. Yay! I like all white. It so often becomes about the small details and textures. And of course it's usually very elegant. (Except for Lady Skipwith. Ack!) I can almost hear it rustling.

    (Another yay for Romney. And the little dog, too :)

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  3. Totally Yay! It's so simple and pure, without being too young and cutsey (Sarah doesn't look to have had a cutsey face).

    The doggie is a little froo-froo for my tastes though!

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  4. Her pink face (if it's not the scanning/photo) makes me believe that she was a readhead (or maybe the painter just went for a pink face in contrast to the white dress). But what do I know...

    The dress is white, a bit boring, but Miss Rodbard bears it well. It's a YAY from me, anyway.

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  5. a definate YAY from me!
    a slighlty moody but certainly attractive face and her dress looks gorgeous...what a catch!

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  6. Her face looks masculine though her features soft and sensitive. She has a fantastic figure and the dress is beautiful so it's a YAY from me. :) How did they keep clothes like that in good clean condition in those days?!

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  7. Yay for elegant simplicity! The classic white is charming, and I love the little peek at her shoes.

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  8. Yay! Such an elegant dress.

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  9. Yay!
    Love how it's natural, but really elegant at the same time. And of course, very fashionable. I'm sure both Marie Antoinette and the Duchess would have approved.

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  10. Yay! Very simple and chic. The virtuosity of the textile on the skirt is superb. It looks like a perfect silk. And I like the peekaboo shoes, also.

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  11. I'm not normally a fan of white, but the shimmeriness plus that pretty blue sash make it a yay!

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  12. Definite Yay! Beautiful.

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  13. This painting is not of the low class artist. This has cost dear. How title-less was this lady? Methinks she may have been closer to lots of collateral than meets the common eye.

    The lady's presence is uncommonly pleasing, perhaps a little too much so? Would the Duchess condescend to meet her to assess the lady's features and quality of dress more openly......

    http://myword1.blogspot.com/

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  14. You bring up a good point, although title-less, Sarah (and her family) had some money to spare. Having Romney paint your portrait was a symbol of wealth, and did well in attracting wealthy suitors (preferably with titles). I'm sure Mss Rodbard would be allowed in the same circles of Georgiana!

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  15. Fortunate Sarah was an heiress, but of a...wait for it...Cit. Gasp! But, yes, she attracted a General, so mission accomplished!

    (I just had to look her up in my Romney catalog. Primarily because I was wondering what kind of dog it is.)

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  16. Definate yay! What a lovely, elegant outfit, and perfect for her age and looks. It doesn't make her look like an old lady, but it doesn't make her look like a girly-girl either. Plus, I adore Romney's paintings...

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  17. Simple, but elegant. I love her shoes!!!
    White is the color of innocence and purity, yes? As a young woman, I think the portrait does a nice job of showing off her pretty face.. and the cute dog!

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  18. Love it. Absolutely love, and echo previous commenter's question, how did they keep dresses like that clean in those days?

    Sigh. I know dresses like that aren't practical now, but isn't it lovely that once people wore them?

    And the little dog is the ultimate accessory, as Sarah obviously knows!

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  19. Yay. It's a classic combination.

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  20. I love it, this is like "classic beauty". It's a YAY for me! ^^


    http://tigerlilysbook.blogspot.com

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  21. Oh, YAY! Heck, I'd wear that in public any day! (Change the accessory pooch though...)LOVE the blue sash. Not too sure about the sprinkling of gold on the shoulder. If this was a "I am rich and pretty so come on give me an offer"-portrait that is a little obvious, don't you think?

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  22. Yay! I want this dress for myself...

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  23. The dog in the painting appears to be the favoured lap dog of the upper classes, nay, not just of upper classes, but of kings and Queens.

    The lady married a general, I see, she becomes more interesting,maybe the fascination of her social milieu.

    http://myword1.blogspot.com

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