The Concept
A recreation of the painting Marquesa de Llano by Mengs, c. 1775. An attempt to make as exact, and historically accurate, recreation as I can — which also includes these related projects:
- 1780s stays
- 18th c. shift & petticoat
The Fabric & Trim
Barely off-white silk taffeta, black silk taffeta, lined in linen. Trimmed with spangle embroidery.
The Pattern
Draped by me.
Useful Links
- Maja jacket, 1770 at the Museo del Traje
- High resolution image
- High resolution closeup #1
- High resolution closeup #2
- High resolution closeup #3
Bibliography
- Marsh, Gail. 18th Century Embroidery Techniques. Lewes: Guild of Master Craftsman, 2006.
- Noyes, Dorothy. “La Maja Vestida: Dress as Resistance to Enlightenment in Late-18th-Century Madrid.” Journal of American Folklore 111:440 (1998): 197-217.
- Ribeiro, Aileen. Dress in Eighteenth-Century Europe, 1715-1789. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.
- Tomlinson, Janis A. et al. Goya: Images of Women. Yale University Press, 2002.
- Worth, Susannah and Lucy R. Sibley. “Maja Dress and the Andalusian Image of Spain.” Clothing and Textiles Research Journal 12:4 (1994): 51-60.
- Zenardi, T. “Fashioning the Duchess of Alba: Vicarious Thrills and Sartorial Flirtations During the Spanish Enlightenment.” Fashion Theory 14:1 (March 2010): 7-44.
Hi,
Absolutely LOVE your maja outfit. I need one because we are forming a group of 4 musicians 18th century… 2 (1 male, 1 female) of French and 2 (1 male, 1 female) of Spanish.
We are just starting out. I bought cloth (rayon-cotton blend) in Valencia, Spain when I was there last year. I hope I can use it for a gown. Any quick advice on the maja outfit?
Brilliant work, a great interpretation, you look every the inch a powerful Marquessa!