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]

30 comments:

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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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  5. YAY!

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

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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. Yay, I love how simple the dress is. However, I dislike the little fluffballs hanging off of the hat.

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  10. 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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  11. 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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  12. Yay, though I would have a smaller updo for riding.

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  13. 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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  14. 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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  15. YAY!!!! I completely adore it. And I just love the hat.

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  20. 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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  21. 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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  22. a very big yea. Well except for the hat, but I love love love miltary styled ladies clothes.

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

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

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

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  28. 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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