French Fine Art Fashion Prints Collection

Three fancy dress costumes - Designs by Madame Bréant Castel 1877

Print by the famous Illustrator Adel Anais Tondouze (1822-1899)

La Mode Illustrée commenced publication in 1860. This is a rare print which was individually collected for its most interesting costume collection.

Showing three dress designs, probably mother and  her daughters, worn for a fancy dress grand occasion. The portraits are this distinguished Fashion Artist at her very best.  Nostalgically, this print reminds us how young ladies can look.

Lou le masque. Who's hiding behind the mask?

Fine detail and enchanting figures

This print has an enchanting subject which was painted in exceptionally high detail. It is from an early Lithograph. The painting shows a lady sitting in a long yellow dress with a Jester behind her they are enjoying a masked ball. Mystery and fun is depicted in this lovely image.  Her eyes show clearly through her mask on the print, sparkling with happiness.

Four Theatre Costumes - 1895

Four fashion fancy dress costumes

This vintage fashion print is an early example of costume plates worn for fancy dress or stage productions. These themes were probably first shown in the Paris Exhibition  of 1890. Vivid coloured textiles were used for maximum impact and the artist's interpretation of them still held strong in the print found recently. Similar collectors prints covered a vast range of subjects and had a huge interest at the time.

The story around this group of unusual costumes is unknown, but may be known in the Paris region. A visually stunning and topical talking point for any wall display.