Adélaïde Labille-Guiard paints an apparition of Louise Élisabeth (1788) after her death. But has she returned to the earthen world in good clothes? Yay or Nay?
[Versailles]
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Yay or Nay? Louise Élisabeth
Menswear in the watermelon shades (even a loose black cravat for the seeds!) has its appeal and the Earl of Charlemont was award a Yay for his fetching attire. Although I raised an eyebrow at the cravat I can't argue with the panel. Now let's look at something from the Van Dyck line.
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard paints an apparition of Louise Élisabeth (1788) after her death. But has she returned to the earthen world in good clothes? Yay or Nay?
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard paints an apparition of Louise Élisabeth (1788) after her death. But has she returned to the earthen world in good clothes? Yay or Nay?
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Either the hat or the ruff need to go, but wearing them together is too much. I say nay for the combination and the drab colors.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like ice crystals are poking out of her arms and shoulders. Pity, it's a beautiful painting but in terms of what she's wearing in the painting, nay.
ReplyDeleteShe must be in hell because no one would be forced to wear a dress like that in heaven. NAY.
ReplyDeleteTotal and utter YAY.
ReplyDeleteShe looks fierce.
I wouldnt want to be immortalized wearing the same damned ruff as everyone else. And I think the 'drab' colors make her look edgy. Furthermore, the lady is so beautiful and looks like she has a sense of humor. I think that samon colored silk or grey or whatever would be over the top...and in this case, I think the hat works, especially because she is playing with a toddler, and there is a pet parrot hanging about. I feel like her wardrobe and the scene clue you in to the madame louises personality, and so the whole combo works for me.
Though I'm not so familiar with this particular lady, and I'm not so sure about the spiky ruffles, the painting has a rather wistful quality to it, the dark colors, the dark dress, the overall feel that I would have to say YAY. It is painted after her death after all.
ReplyDeleteOh YAY! If I come back as a ghost I want to wear equally awesome clothes. The ensemble is a bit much for a 'real' outfit, but for a posthumous portrait, a little bit of goth fantasy is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love love love the hat!!! In the painting the colors do look a bit drab but when imagining the lady walking around wearing it in my head, i love them. However the ice princess ruffles freeze the love right there, but to me the pros out weigh the cons. YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteBeing a pirate, I give her points for the parrot. Yay.
ReplyDeleteYay! Yay! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI say yay! She looks like a German fairy tale princess. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind if she lost the hat, but the gown is a keeper. I love how it combines the general shape and style of the 80s (the _good_ 80s, that is, not the 1980s) with 17th century-esque detailing, like the collar (which I LOVE, which is strange, as I'm not usually a ruff kinda gal) and the slashed upper sleeves.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the painting in reality or as it was originally - I suspect the drab colours (boo!) are either down to the reproduction of the painting or a yellowed varnish. A yay overall.
Big "Yay!" I love this painting too.
ReplyDeleteYAY! She looks awe-some!!
ReplyDeleteI give this a yay. It is a wonderful posthumous painting. The sorrowful expression on the child's face and her fingers barely holding the child's gives the idea that she has slipped away. Her gown is a fantasy of fashion eras, slashed sleeves, laced bodice, ruffs and the dark colors of mourning. Plus I own parrots and I love the use of them in portraiture.
ReplyDeleteYay! It's really pretty. I love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely! Yay from me!
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I liked it but upon closer inspection it's a huge nay. The ruff?! White Queen from Narnia would spring to mind if it weren't such an anachronism!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this!! This is one of my favorite outfits you've picked yet.. even though she was, well, DEAD at the time.
ReplyDelete