Two Women and a Child – 1853

Two women and a child in a parlor, France 1853

This authentic 1853 hand-colored fashion plate, illustrated by artist Jules David for Paris magazine Le Moniteur de la Mode, captures the peak of mid-19th-century Victorian style. The historical print features two elegant women and a young child in a lavishly decorated period interior complete with a marble fireplace and gilded mirror. The central figure showcases a striking navy blue tiered day dress with detailed bodice buttoning and wide sleeves, demonstrating the voluminous dome-shaped silhouette popular just before the widespread introduction of the steel crinoline cage.

Antique French Dress Design and Mid-19th Century Textiles

The companion figure in this antique lithograph leans forward wearing a romantic pastel pink taffeta gown with a wide, dropped-shoulder neckline and delicate white undersleeves. To the right, a small child in a coordinated powder blue embroidered jacket and lace bonnet stands atop a crimson velvet armchair, illustrating high-society children’s wear of the era. The lower margin contains the original French cursive typography detailing the garment specifications for Toilette de Melle Nathalie, making this a vital archival reference for fashion historians and historical costumers.