Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary, Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1878, Collection of the Hermitage
The Idea and Inspiration:
To recreate the evening dress worn by Jeanne Samary in Renoir’s Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary, now in the collection of the Hermitage.
I wanted the dress to be both historically accurate, and to capture the mood and impression of Renoir’s painting, so my recreation is an interpretation of both the original frock, and Renoir’s artwork.
Fabric and Materials:
Ashen mauve silk tissue ruches and poofs over cotton broadcloth. Vintage buttons and buckle to trim. Featherweight plastic boning, metal hooks to fasten.
The Dress Diary:
Creating the ruching and ruffling
Me in the Jeanne Samary dress
The finished dress in a professional photoshoot
At the Capturing the Mode talk
Jeanne Samary at the Pompeii to Paris talk
Jeanne Samary & the ballgown of 1878
Extant garments similar to the Jeanne Samary dress
Theresa in the Jeanne Samary at the Botanical Gardens
Theresa in the Jeanne Samary with magnolias
Research and Resources:
Janet Arnold, Patterns of Fashion 1860-1940 (pattern very loosely based on the 1882-1883 dinner dress pattern)
1878 ball gowns - train inspiration
Janet Arnold's 1882 dinner dress
Gallery:
Oh, my, what an absolutely beautiful gown!!! Stunning!
Awww….thank you!
such a lovely dress you`ve made and what an inspiring portrait also. Shall look closely at the diary and enjoy myself. 🙂
Wow!!! It is indeed a lovely dress! I wish I were half as great a seamstress as you!:) It’s amazing!!!
Many Blessings,
Grace
I love this dress. Beautiful pictures too. Oh, to know how to sew; it must be wonderful.
This would be a fantastic wedding dress!