French Family – 1847

French family around the piano forte, 1847

This mid-19th-century French fashion plate, titled “Les Modes Parisiennes,” captures an intimate domestic scene blending high society wardrobe with cultural leisure. A woman seated at a classical piano reviews a sheet of music, wearing an elegant rose-pink gown accented with a delicate bow. Beside her, another woman in a voluminous, tiered sage-green crinoline dress and a decorative lace bonnet leans forward. The composition is completed by a young girl in a blue plaid frock cradling a small spaniel dog, set against a refined interior featuring a fireplace mantel and a towering bookcase.

Historical French Fashion Plate and Antique Lithograph Details

As a authentic piece of historical costume illustration from 1857, this hand-colored engraving serves as a prime reference for viterian-era haute couture and textile craftsmanship. The lower margin contains original French typography detailing the dressmakers, milliners, and boutique locations in Paris, such as the Palais-Royal. This antique print beautifully documents the crinoline silhouettes, intricate lace fichus, and lifestyle aspirations of the upper class during the Second French Empire.