Empire Dress Collection

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. Elizabeth Bennet overhears Mr Darcy at the Ball. Illustration by Hugh Thomson from the 1894 edition of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, originally published in 1813

AUSTEN: PERSUASION, 1898. Looking on her with a face as pallid as her own. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1898 edition of Jane Austens Persuasion, first published in 1817

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. Princess Charlotte Augusta (1796-1817). Canvas by G. Dawe

PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

AUSTEN: PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Mrs. Long and her nieces. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

AUSTEN: EMMA, 1896. He stopped to look the question. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1896 edition of Jane Austens Emma, first published in 1815

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. She wanted to compose her own feelings and to make herself agreeable to all. Elizabeth Bennet entertaining Mr. Darcy, his sister, and Mr. Bingley

AUSTEN: PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Mrs. Long and her nieces. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

AUSTEN: PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Mary Bennet entertaining the party at Netherfield. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

July - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of July. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

CLIFTON ASSEMBLY ROOMS. The cloakroom of the Clifton Assembly Rooms during a ball, Bath, England. Oil painting by Rolina Sharples, 1818

August - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of August. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

September - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of September. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

June - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of June. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

Portrait of Mary Lodge (oil on canvas)
490138 Portrait of Mary Lodge (oil on canvas) by Ducq, Joseph (1762-1829); 212x145 cm; Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

Portrait of Maria Jozefa Pavot (oil on canvas)
490132 Portrait of Maria Jozefa Pavot (oil on canvas) by Odevaere, Joseph Denis (1778-1830); 80x63.1 cm; Groeningemuseum, Bruges

The Vaccination (oil on canvas)
AGN47145 The Vaccination (oil on canvas) by Boilly, Louis Leopold (1761-1845); 45.7x58.4 cm; Private Collection; Photo eAgnew s, London; French, out of copyright

A Musician and his Family, possibly Fernando Sor (1778-1839) (oil on canvas)
BMT108101 A Musician and his Family, possibly Fernando Sor (1778-1839) (oil on canvas) by French School, (19th century); BibliothAque Paul-Marmottan, Ville de Boulogne-Billancourt

Donna Joaquina Tellez-Giron, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Osuna, 1798
SCP38866 Donna Joaquina Tellez-Giron, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Osuna, 1798 by Esteve, Augustin (1753-c.1820/36); Prado, Madrid, Spain; Spanish, out of copyright

Little girl reading in a harvest field (Victorian illustration)
A little girl wearing Regency style clothing reading a book in a harvest field. From " The Horkey - A Ballad" by Robert Bloomfield

April - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of April. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

Regency-style young woman - Kate Greenaway, 1884
An illustration of a young Regency-style woman from the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

May - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of May. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

Autumn and Winter - Kate Greenaway 1883
A spread depicting autumn and winter from a book illustrated by the influential Victorian artist Kate Greenaway, from the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1883a published by George Routledge & Sons

November - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of November (but why it shows tulips is a mystery!)

October - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of October. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

March - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of March. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

December - Kate Greenaway, 1884
From the Kate Greenaway Almanack for 1884, an illustration for the month of December. The Almanack for 1884 by Kate Greenaway was published by George Routledge & Sons of London and New York

Portrait of Mademoiselle Caroline Riviere (1793-1803) 1805 (oil on canvas)
XIR2997 Portrait of Mademoiselle Caroline Riviere (1793-1803) 1805 (oil on canvas) by Ingres, Jean Auguste Dominique (1780-1867); 100x70 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

JOHANNA WAGNER (1774-1848). Johanna Rosine Wagner. Mother of German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). Oil on canvas, 1813, by Ludwig Geyer

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. But Jane happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was decided. He placed himself by her. Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley at Longbourn

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. The Bennet sisters, Kitty and Lydia, along with Charlotte Lucas, enter the Bennet breakfast room

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. Taking the letter from his pocket he said, But perhaps
PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. Taking the letter from his pocket he said, " But perhaps you would like to read it." Illustration by Hugh Thomson from the 1894 edition of Jane Austens Pride

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 1894. Mary Bennet entertaining the party at Netherfield. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

AUSTEN: PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1894 edition of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813

Mrs Louis Kentin Empire Dress 1880s Albumen silver print
Artokoloro

AUSTEN: EMMA, 1896. Emma was not sorry to have such an opportunity of survey. Illustration by Hugh Thomson for an 1896 edition of Jane Austens Emma, first published in 1815

Portrait of Madame Raymond de Verninac (1780-1827) 1798-99 (oil on canvas)
XIR83615 Portrait of Madame Raymond de Verninac (1780-1827) 1798-99 (oil on canvas) by David, Jacques Louis (1748-1825); 145.5x112 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

Portrait of Maria Josephine Amalia of Saxony
XJL62081 Portrait of Maria Josephine Amalia of Saxony by Lacoma, Francisco (1778-1849); Museo Romantico, Madrid, Spain; Spanish, out of copyright

The Triumph of Music, c. 1820 (w / c, pen & ink over wash on paper)
XYC258604 The Triumph of Music, c.1820 (w/c, pen & ink over wash on paper) by Burney, Edward Francis (1760-1848); 30.8x46 cm; Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, USA; English

Portrait of Madame Recamier (1777-1849) (oil on canvas)
XIR2292 Portrait of Madame Recamier (1777-1849) (oil on canvas) by Gerard, Francois Pascal Simon, Baron (1770-1837); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; French

DENMARK: WAITRESS, c1825. A Copenhagen waitress. Lithograph, Danish, c1825

DENMARK: MAILMAN, c1825. A Copenhagen mailman delivers a letter to a maid. Lithograph, Danish, c1825

ENGLAND: COUPLE. 1872. An Old Song. Engraving, English, 1872

GOYA: MARQUESA DE LAZAN. The Marquesa de Lazan. Oil on canvas, c1800-1804, by Francisco Goya

MARIA JOSEPHA OF SAXONY (1803-1829). Queen consort of Spain and wife of Ferdinand VII. Oil on canvas, c1825, by Francisco Lacoma

GOYA: COUNTESS, 1803. The Countess of Fernan-Nunez. Oil on canvas, 1803, by Francisco Goya

GOYA: CONDESA, 1808. The Countess of Chinchon. Detail of an oil on canvas, 1808, by Francisco Goya

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The empire dress, a timeless symbol of elegance and grace, has graced the pages of literature and history with its ethereal beauty. In Jane Austen's beloved novel "Pride & Prejudice, " we find ourselves transported to a ball where Elizabeth Bennet overhears Mr. Darcy, his words captivating her heart as much as her eyes are captivated by the flowing silhouette of her empire dress. In another Austen masterpiece, "Persuasion, " we witness a poignant moment when Anne Elliot catches the gaze of her love interest with a face as pallid as her own. The delicate fabric of her empire dress mirrors the fragility of their unspoken emotions. Princess Charlotte Augusta, depicted in an exquisite canvas by G. Dawe, exudes regal charm in an empire dress that perfectly complements her royal stature. Her attire serves as a testament to the fashion trends prevalent during this era. Mrs. Long and her nieces from "Pride & Prejudice" make quite an impression at social gatherings adorned in their elegant empire dresses. Their refined taste is evident in every stitch and pleat. Hugh Thomson's illustrations for various editions of Austen's novels beautifully capture the essence of this iconic garment. From Mary Bennet entertaining guests at Netherfield to Emma Woodhouse pausing to ponder life's questions while donning an enchanting empire dress - these images transport us back to a time filled with romance and societal intricacies. The Clifton Assembly Rooms' cloakroom during a grand ball in Bath showcases how women would gracefully remove their outerwear before revealing their stunning empire dresses underneath. This scene epitomizes both luxury and sophistication. As we delve deeper into Austen's world, it becomes clear that the allure of the empire dress extends beyond just its aesthetic appeal; it embodies female empowerment and self-expression too.