Sunday, February 14, 2010

Yay or Nay? Mrs. William Moseley

Truly we have a most English crowd. Queen Charlotte was met with a resounding Yay for her state portrait gown. This week we shall examine a garment that is usually foreign to formal portraits: the riding habit.


Ralph Earl paints Mrs. William Moseley (1791) in her navy riding habit, accented in gold and topped with a cream-colored hat.

[Yale University Art Gallery]

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30 comments:

  1. AbsFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:59 AM

    I find it quite a becoming and handsome dress. Yay from me. Not a fan at all of the hat - too much fluff for my taste.

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  2. Svea LoveFebruary 14, 2010 at 4:15 AM

    Hmm...I think I will say Yay. I like her but the boys' outfit is not very good. If it was just a portrait of her I would say Yay Yay :)

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2010 at 4:52 AM

    Oh definitely a Yay from me, I have always loved riding habits they are so elegant, I think its the dark colours.

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  4. Jen ThompsonFebruary 14, 2010 at 8:23 AM

    HUGE yay from me!

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  5. KristinFebruary 14, 2010 at 9:48 AM

    BIG RESOUNDING YAY. I adore 18th century riding habits (working on my own repro one!), and this is a very smart, lovely example!

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  6. nightsmusicFebruary 14, 2010 at 10:10 AM

    YAY!

    (though I could do without the small child and the hat)

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  7. IngridFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:33 PM

    I love the hat and I like the skeleton suit on the boy, so typical for the late 18th century.
    I think the dress is marvellous. To me it looks more like a redingote dress worn as fashionable undress and not for riding. The white petticoat and especially the hat with the enormous acorns hanging from the brim do not look suitable for riding.
    A yay for Mrs. Moseley! Is she American?

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  8. Molly M.February 14, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    Love the riding habit so a yay for me! Not a fan of the hat and really, I am not sure what the little boy is wearing. But the habit itself is just stunning and very becoming on her.

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  9. HesterFebruary 14, 2010 at 1:25 PM

    If I were the boy, I would have changed my outfit for the painting. The boy's outfit is a Nay, but Mrs. William Mosely a big Yay! I like her dress very much.

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  10. EmilyFebruary 14, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    Yay, I love how simple the dress is. However, I dislike the little fluffballs hanging off of the hat.

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  11. PolonaiseFebruary 14, 2010 at 2:16 PM

    A big yay for the habit, of which I am a big fan. And I will give the skeleton suit a yay as well, but the child is terrifying.

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  12. The DreamstressFebruary 14, 2010 at 2:16 PM

    Yay for the habit, though I am a bit worried about the fluffy pinecones hanging precariously off her hat. And the skeleton suit is just a bit bright and blinding. I bet that little boy was a spoiled brat.

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  13. Amanda February 14, 2010 at 8:36 PM

    Yay, though I would have a smaller updo for riding.

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  14. Paul MillerFebruary 14, 2010 at 10:12 PM

    I think the outfit is too 'smart' for its own good. Too stiff. And speaking of stiff, what's up with the truck nuts hanging off her hat? I must disclose that I'm on my third cocktail. Apologies, m'dear.

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  15. CherylynnFebruary 14, 2010 at 11:08 PM

    truck nuts...*snort*.. too funny. But a Yay for the dress, very smart. She would look very grand on horseback, for sure.

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  16. AudreyFebruary 14, 2010 at 11:18 PM

    YAY!!!! I completely adore it. And I just love the hat.

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  17. marquise d'chalenconFebruary 15, 2010 at 1:46 AM

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  18. marquise d'chalenconFebruary 15, 2010 at 1:46 AM

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  19. marquise d'chalenconFebruary 15, 2010 at 1:47 AM

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  20. marquise d'chalenconFebruary 15, 2010 at 1:48 AM

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  21. marquise d'chalenconFebruary 15, 2010 at 2:00 AM

    YAY! Personally i love the simplicity of this riding habit et madames grande chapeau is exquisite. I should have one made up myself! ;)

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  22. JessiFebruary 15, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    Yay for Mrs Moseley, not so yay for the demon-like child standing next to her...and if I wasn't 18th century savvy I'd say Mr Earl had superimposed them both onto the background using Photoshop or some such! Not a good style.

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  23. RoselFebruary 15, 2010 at 8:15 AM

    a very big yea. Well except for the hat, but I love love love miltary styled ladies clothes.

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  24. OneldaFebruary 15, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    Yay! I love it.

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  25. HélèneFebruary 15, 2010 at 12:50 PM

    Yay. Nice colour, and nice shape as well. It looks like a mix between a redingote and a robe à l'anglaise. The child looks silly, though. But I guess it was the fashion, and after all it's better than dressing him up as an adult.

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  26. HeidenkindFebruary 15, 2010 at 6:16 PM

    The hat is a little much. And the hair... lordy lordy.

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  27. buckndiFebruary 15, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    Resounding Yay! I love navy, and the clean, classic lines are a marked difference from the elaborate costumes usual in formal portraiture.

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  28. MalloryFebruary 17, 2010 at 2:02 PM

    I a sucker for any combination of navy and cream. A definite yay!

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  29. LeahFebruary 17, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    I like it! It's very.. something. Riding-y. I give it a yay.

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  30. Belle-EtoileFebruary 19, 2010 at 5:47 PM

    Another yay! I love riding habits, and her's is especially elegant. I really like the gold trim. However, much as I have a weakness for big hats, I think this one is a bit mismatched. I can only imagine how smart she would look with a nice tricorn.

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