Description:
Dress Books for the use of painters : an editorial purpose for historical paintings (18th-19th centuries). Beginning in the 18th century until the late 1880’s, the publication of dress engravings was highly successful. At the same time, historical painters and critics showed an increasing interest in the accuracy of dress. This article does not propose to give an exhaustive inventory, but it will illustrate the connections between painters and the publications of engravings. Owing to artists and teachers of the Art Academies, this type of publication, invented in the 16th century, experienced new developments in the 18th century, both in its scientific aspects and in the importance of illustrations (Dandré-Bardon, Lens, Mulliot) and mav be seen as an answer to the desire of the artistic world, from painters to actors. The publications, that deal essentially with the middle ages and modern times, appear only after 1810, following the works of several painters (Brenet for example). However, as historical painters looked towards a greater accuracy in dress as a means of regeneration (from Delaroche to Rochegrosse at the end of 19th century), outstanding dress engravings, such as those of Planché and Léon Heuzey, were, certainly, intended for artists and belong to historical painting.