American Equestrians – 1855

American equestrians with nanny and child

Two women dresses for riding, one on horseback, are joined by the nanny bringing a child to meet them. The woman on the left rides side-saddle on a brown horse whose bridle is adorned with a pink tassel and whose mane is braided with a pink bow. A white dog with a pink collar greets her. The woman wears a blue riding habit with a white pleated blouse with a wide stiff collar, a blue skirt, and blue jacket open in a deep v.

The jacket sleeves are pleated below the shoulders and full below. She wears three-quarter length gray gauntlet gloves and a flat brimmed straw hat decorated with flowers, feathers, and wide ribbons. She holds a riding crop and looks down at the child. The woman in the center wears a similar riding outfit in green trimmed with light green ribbon. Her skirt is very full, and the bell sleeves of her jacket have wide french cuffs.

She wears a green bow tied at the collar of her pleated white shirt. She holds a riding crop and wears gray gloves and a wide-brimmed hat with a black netted veil and green flowers. Next to her stands a woman who is most likely the child’s nanny. She wears a dark, simple dress with narrow sleeves and an ankle length skirt. Over that she wears a pink fichu crossed in front and tucked in at the waist. Her white apron is trimmed with a pattern of flowers along the sides and hem. Hanging from her waist is a small pair of scissors which confirms her domestic role.

She wears a cap with a large bow at the front, gold hoop earrings. and a triple-strand gold necklace. In front of her is the young child wearing a tightly-fitted white dress with scalloped edges and buttons down the center.

The child may be a girl, or a boy “not yet breeched,” though the elaborate bonnet seems to be feminine. The child wears black boots with rosettes and a white hat trimmed in feathers and ribbons. The child pulls a toy cat behind her.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges