Woman Wearing a Costume Whose Bustle and Headdress are the Shape of Fishes

Anonymous, British, 19th century

second half 19th century · Watercolor on gray card · Drawings and Prints

Drawing of woman wearing a costume with fish motifs, possibly an advertisement for a costume house. She stands on right profile, holding her right arm bent on a right angle in front of her. The bodice of the dress, likely corseted, is of light blue color, and the short sleeves are made up of orange fish scales. The skirt is made up of a white, thin fabric, above which is a bustle with train, with the shape of a large fish colored with shades of brown and orange. Two thin veils hang from the back of the bodice, one of which the woman holds with her right hand, extended to her side. The hair is long, loose, and partially covered by a headdress, also with the shape of a fish, executed with shades of brown.

Artist

Anonymous, British, 19th century

Date

second half 19th century

Medium

Watercolor on gray card

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1966