Jeune Dame qui l'est affublée d'un grand Domino de Taffetas a capuche, plate 62

Dateca. 1779

Engraver Jean Baptiste Patas (1748 - 1817)

After work by Pierre-Thomas LeClerc (ca. 1740 - ca. 1799)

Publisher Esnauts & Rapilly (fl. ca. 1775-1811)

OriginEurope, France, Paris

MediumHand-colored etching and line engraving

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1971-3087

DescriptionPrint is from Galeries des Modes, 22e Cahier, 2e Figure

Upper right corner: "62"
Lower margin reads: "Dessiné par le Clerc/ Gravé par Patas/ Jeune Dame qui l'estaffublée d'un grand Domino de Taffetas a capuche; et habit est adopté depuis longtems dans les bals publiques où l'on va non pour danswer, mais pour jouir du spectacle sans être connu: il est commode en ce qu'il recouvre également la toilette la plus négligée comme la plus grande parure./ A Paris chez Esnauts et Rapilly rue S.t Jacques, à la Ville de Coutances. A.P.D.R."

Translation:
Young Lady who is wearing a large, hooded, taffeta Domino; this dress was adopted a long time ago at the public balls when one doesn't intend to dance, but to enjoy the spectacle without being recognized: it is convenient in that it covers the most négligé toilette and the grandest parure equally.

The Galerie des Modes provides futher information on this plate. It reads:
Domino à la bahoute, or negligé Domino. This was approximately the Domino, when the French imported it from the Venetians. That worn by Men only opens to the waist in front; it was, after this, entirely open. Women wore it closed, with a hood, as in the Print; Men added a cape.

The taste of the French Ladies for gallant parures has not been a long time without extending its empire over this Garment. Then one saw the trimmed Dominos arise, whose combinations vary to infinity, and the Dominos à la Bahoute are, as it were, fallen into disuse.

With respect to the masks, they were very fashionable in the sixteenth century, especially among the Ladies of quality: they were usually of black velvet, and were called loups. And it had been an indecency for a Woman to appear in the streets without a loup over her face Marguerite de Valois, first Wife of Henri IV, protected this fashion singularly, which, little by little, was abolished, and the masks were reserved for Balls and other pleasures.

As it all progresses, the demi-masks, or masks with taffeta beads, were made, more convenient than the full masks for speaking, breathing, and taking refreshments; it is a mask of this type that is shown in the Print. There has also been imagined, some years ago, masks made with Marli,** they are still more agreeable than the demi-masks, because air penetrates them and they perfectly disguise those who use them.
Label TextThis plate was published in the French fashion periodical "Gallerie des Modes et du Costume Francais."