Walking Dress – Winter 1826

The woman wears a heavy, purple walking dress with a high, white, double ruff collar and a wide band of white fur at the hem. The sleeves are long, with a purple ruffle at the shoulders and white fur cuffs that match the hem of the dress. Two parallel lines of purple curved decoration run down the front of the woman’s dress, and a purple belt with a gold buckle fastens at her natural waist.

The woman wears pale gloves, flat, black shoes, and white stockings. Her hat has a wide brim and a high, yellow-and-black striped crown. It is trimmed with white ribbon striped in blue, pink and yellow. The same ribbon secures the hat with a bow under the woman’s chin. The bow has long, looping ends and is set off by a white ruffle that also runs under the chin. The woman wears a long, gold necklace and a gold bracelet with a large, oval, red stone on each wrist.

In her left hand, she holds a white, fur muff lined with pale blue. Her other hand holds an round gold object, possibly a monocle attached to the chain. The woman is outside: wintry trees and a small, domed building are visible in the distance, and she stands on grass. Written in pencil in the lower, right-hand corner is “1826”.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges