Caftan
ca. 1920 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This gown belonged to the famous Italian actor Eleonora Duse (1858-1924), noted for her association with the poet and playwright Gabriele d'Annunzio. Duse was a great friend of the designer Mariano Fortuny (1871-1949) and was known for the fact that she used very little make-up in an age where acting demanded dramatic costumes and disguise. Duse was the first woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine in July 1923.
The multi-talented Fortuny was a painter, theatre designer, photographer, inventor and scientist. However, he is best known as a creator of extraordinary fabrics and clothes. His distinctive creations were worn by avant-garde beauties throughout the world from about 1910 to the 1930s.
The multi-talented Fortuny was a painter, theatre designer, photographer, inventor and scientist. However, he is best known as a creator of extraordinary fabrics and clothes. His distinctive creations were worn by avant-garde beauties throughout the world from about 1910 to the 1930s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Metallic printed silk velvet, faced and lined with corded silk |
| Brief description | Caftan of printed silk velvet, designed by Mariano Fortuny, Venice, Italy, ca. 1920 |
| Physical description | Caftan of green/blue silk velvet printed with red metallic pigment. It is lined and faced with green corded silk and has a circular label at the centre back of the neck. |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Mariano Fortuny, Venise' (Inscription on label at centre back of the neck) |
| Credit line | Given by Fr. Sebastian Bullough |
| Summary | This gown belonged to the famous Italian actor Eleonora Duse (1858-1924), noted for her association with the poet and playwright Gabriele d'Annunzio. Duse was a great friend of the designer Mariano Fortuny (1871-1949) and was known for the fact that she used very little make-up in an age where acting demanded dramatic costumes and disguise. Duse was the first woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine in July 1923. The multi-talented Fortuny was a painter, theatre designer, photographer, inventor and scientist. However, he is best known as a creator of extraordinary fabrics and clothes. His distinctive creations were worn by avant-garde beauties throughout the world from about 1910 to the 1930s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.732-1972 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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