Evening dress
Designer
Mariano Fortuny
(1871 - 1949)
1924
Silk velvet, silk, and glass beads
Gift of Ann Schneider
Object number91.218.1
Fortuny's interest in historical art and design is evident in this dress on the right that references the early Italian Renaissance. While the silhouette is a vague interpretation of a 14th-century gown, the fabric's paired griffins and palmette motifs are specific to textiles produced in Lucca. Fortuny owned a large collection of historical fabrics that informed his work, but he avoided anachronism by employing the lean line and unrestricted silhouette embraced by modern fashion.
DescriptionLate day dress: grey beige velvet embossed with historical Italian design of stylized flowers and animals; pleated silk side inserts; Medieval style gown, square neckline, floor length A-line shift, long sleeves; accordian pleated silk panel in sleeve and side seam held by crosswise silk cords buttoned to glass beads; right back hooks and eyes (added)Collections
Exhibitions