Sunday, July 26, 2009

Yay or Nay? The Duchess of Saltykova

Goodness gracious! Last week's selection did not fair well among the masses and met with a major 'Nay.' It seems that the hat killed the outfit. This week's selection coincides with Lauren's post on feather fashion.


Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein paints the Duchess Saltykova in a robe a la francaise that is trimmed with feathers (1780). Yay or Nay?

18 comments:

  1. Much as I love what Lauren is doing with feathers, I think this feather dress is a great big Nay. It looks like this skirt is growing mold. Ewwwww...

    Thanks for posting it though! I'm on the lookout for formal portraits from the 1780s and this is a new one!

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  2. Nay. Perhaps the painter is actually to blame for how heavy and slightly dead those feathers look, I still think it looks odd and even slightly tacky against the rest of her outfit.

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  3. Could you post some more information on the Duchess? I've been trying to find information on her on the internet without much luck. Thanks!

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  4. Nay. Floofy feathers against heavy satin doesn't work for me. It must have been very luxurious and quite a status symbol, but it looks wrong.

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  5. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE it!!!!!!

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  6. It's a lovely portrait, and I like the dress too, but when I look close at it... the feathers, well... Nay, I must say.

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  7. For me the feathers make this a nay...it adds a weird texture to the dress.

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  8. Nay. The feathers are a brave statement and I applaude the attempt to be different, but they look quite wrong being so limp and dead. Perhaps if they were fluffier their line wouldn't seem so out of place.

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  9. Nay nay nay. The feathers maker look like she has the legs of Chewbacca.

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  10. Nay. The sash reminds me of a beauty pageant and I don't like the feathered trim.

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  11. Yay. Although I don't care for the feathers, I like the rest of it enough to yay it.

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  12. feathers? i thought it was fur. NAY

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  13. Nay. Actually, the feathers are the the one aspect I dislike. I like her 'head' and the setting and palette very much, but the feathers look like an old 70's shag carpet. Kind of weighed down or flattened. Too dense. I would have preferred a lighter feel.

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  14. Yay! The colors are understated and elegant, and the feathers add a touch of whimsy.

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  15. @AlohaAroha I'm sorry I don't know much about the duchess except that she was Russian and had a taste in feather trims! If I do find anything though, you know I'll send it your way!

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  16. I have to say Nay. Although I would love the dress without the feathers.

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  17. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and say Yay, I think the painting of the feathers is the culprit here and feather trim in person (if done right) could be quite charming.

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  18. I don't actually mind it. Call me crazy, but I like the colors, and although yes, it does look rather odd, I think it's slightly cool / different. Georgiana had hair the size of a small castle and you think this is strange!

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