aesthetic dress

Summary

Two piece costume in cream silk, figured with geometric pattern. Bodice forming lining, silk with cotton fronts. Front fastening. Sleeve shaped to wrist, pleated frill at wrist. Separate skirt in 8 sections, gathered to waistband. Fastening down left side. Pleated frill at hem. Pair of white cotton tapes inside back. Overdress, loose tunic, fastening on left. Centre back cut and re-stitched to give fullness with inverted pleat. Ribbon at waist giving draped effect, and pair of silk ribbons at sides. Long sleeves. All tunic edges trimmed with silk braid in two shades of cream. Annotated in Cunnington lists as 'Worn by Madame Canziani', presumably Madame Starr Canziani, nee Louisa Starr (1845-1909) , the first woman artist to be awarded a Royal Academy medal. She regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy, from the 1870s to the 1890s. See article 'A Group of Lady Artists' in Sylvia's Annual, June 1893, pp. 314-319, including a photograph of Madame Starr Canziani.