At the Russian Court...
Jul. 12th, 2009 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzThanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
muizenstaartje we visited Amsterdam today. The Hermitage had an exhibition "At the Russian Court" covering most of the 19th century and a bit of the whereabouts.
Despite rain, a long, long line to get into the museum and the obvious crowds we still had a great time. The exhibition was marvelous, with loads and loads of lovely court gowns, dresses, and uniforms. But there was more!
Huge, and I do mean huge portraits of the Czars and their wives. Paintings of the palaces, the palace grounds, the balls, a panorama of the St.Petersburg, portraits of the children.
And then there were the accessoiries. All the silverware that was used in the bedroom! The throne! Snuff boxes! Shoes! Fans! Jewelry! A teddy bear!
St.Petersburg: Maskerade costume of Ksenia Aleksandrovna (1903). Image thanks to the Hermitage!
I was completely blown away by the sheer amount of gold tassels, fringe, gold and silver embroidery, pearls, more embroidery. If I thought larp costumes could be gaudy...well, they'd be terribly, terribly underdressed at the Russian court. (heh)
I was face-to-face with no less than two Worth gowns. I made a sketch of one, because it was so ingenously designed. A-symmetrical lace running from the right shoulder to the left waist. The lace on the left shouder disappearing under the pleats of pink silk. At the right knee, the lace was 'pulled up' into the side seam, splashing down like a waterfall. There were pleats at the center front of the bodice. The silk had a woven pattern, which was matched at the seams to create an intricate pattern. When I was half-way in my sketch, I read that it was a Worth gown. Ah!
There were other gorgeous costumes too. The 1910s green silk and velvet and chiffon dress with a black fringe with a curious overlap. The gorgeous pink silk gown with green velvet 'flower' blossoming up at the bodice, with loads of embroidered bouquets next to the woven flowers of the silk. The black and white striped gown with the perfectly placed darts. And my favorite: the plum Worth gown I can't find an image of. Plum (or brown) velvet, with a standing collar. A big embroidered trim going down from the left shoulder, narrowing towards the waist, and going down the left leg in two seperate guards. I can't find an image online and I really don't want to scan it because I'm harbouring secret thoughts about making it a project. *sigh*
Of course it helped that the silhouette at that time concurs with our current standards of beauty: a slim waistline, long legs, and an ample bosom. Some of the waistlines were scary thin. And many, many gowns were created in Russia, at local ateliers. Some were created in France, like the Worth gowns. There was also a ceremonial dress from the Order of the Garter!
Absolutely had an amazing time at the exhibit, and we didn't get to see it all in one afternoon. I really need to go back and drool at all those lovely gowns and uniforms.
I was cheesed that I wasn't allowed to take pictures, even though I could very easily switch the flash off. I was even more cheesed when I saw someone take pictures after all (no flash, but still).
And now I know: you can never have too much trim & tassels.
So...when are we going again?
muizenstaartje we visited Amsterdam today. The Hermitage had an exhibition "At the Russian Court" covering most of the 19th century and a bit of the whereabouts. Despite rain, a long, long line to get into the museum and the obvious crowds we still had a great time. The exhibition was marvelous, with loads and loads of lovely court gowns, dresses, and uniforms. But there was more!
Huge, and I do mean huge portraits of the Czars and their wives. Paintings of the palaces, the palace grounds, the balls, a panorama of the St.Petersburg, portraits of the children.
And then there were the accessoiries. All the silverware that was used in the bedroom! The throne! Snuff boxes! Shoes! Fans! Jewelry! A teddy bear!
St.Petersburg: Maskerade costume of Ksenia Aleksandrovna (1903). Image thanks to the Hermitage!
I was completely blown away by the sheer amount of gold tassels, fringe, gold and silver embroidery, pearls, more embroidery. If I thought larp costumes could be gaudy...well, they'd be terribly, terribly underdressed at the Russian court. (heh)
I was face-to-face with no less than two Worth gowns. I made a sketch of one, because it was so ingenously designed. A-symmetrical lace running from the right shoulder to the left waist. The lace on the left shouder disappearing under the pleats of pink silk. At the right knee, the lace was 'pulled up' into the side seam, splashing down like a waterfall. There were pleats at the center front of the bodice. The silk had a woven pattern, which was matched at the seams to create an intricate pattern. When I was half-way in my sketch, I read that it was a Worth gown. Ah!
There were other gorgeous costumes too. The 1910s green silk and velvet and chiffon dress with a black fringe with a curious overlap. The gorgeous pink silk gown with green velvet 'flower' blossoming up at the bodice, with loads of embroidered bouquets next to the woven flowers of the silk. The black and white striped gown with the perfectly placed darts. And my favorite: the plum Worth gown I can't find an image of. Plum (or brown) velvet, with a standing collar. A big embroidered trim going down from the left shoulder, narrowing towards the waist, and going down the left leg in two seperate guards. I can't find an image online and I really don't want to scan it because I'm harbouring secret thoughts about making it a project. *sigh*
Of course it helped that the silhouette at that time concurs with our current standards of beauty: a slim waistline, long legs, and an ample bosom. Some of the waistlines were scary thin. And many, many gowns were created in Russia, at local ateliers. Some were created in France, like the Worth gowns. There was also a ceremonial dress from the Order of the Garter!
Absolutely had an amazing time at the exhibit, and we didn't get to see it all in one afternoon. I really need to go back and drool at all those lovely gowns and uniforms.
I was cheesed that I wasn't allowed to take pictures, even though I could very easily switch the flash off. I was even more cheesed when I saw someone take pictures after all (no flash, but still).
And now I know: you can never have too much trim & tassels.
So...when are we going again?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 07:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 08:07 am (UTC)I may want to go again and some of my friends wanted to come to, but couldn't make it yesterday. Despite the long wait in the rain, it was worth it and a nice day.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 08:15 am (UTC)The rain didn't bother me that much, and waiting in line with you guys was fun.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-14 08:16 am (UTC)Should you fancy sushi, I can really recommend Sushi at the Taksteeg, which is right off the Kalverstraat, the best-known shopping street in Amsterdam. If I want to drag my boyfriend along to something in Amsterdam, bribing him with sushi is my best bet ;-)