Beau Brummel, 1778-1840. His contribution to fashion is undeniable, as he is attributed with creating the man’s suit, its basic construction which is still used to this day. While his contribution to fashion is great, his personal life was one of struggles and tragedy.
Catherine the Great, 1729-1796, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1762-1769.
Marie Antoinette, 1755-1793, was Queen of France married to King Louis XVI. Her intrigue continues some 300 years after her death. Her tragic and untimely death at age 37 came as a result of the French Revolution. This period in time had immense impacts on the world as we know it from politics to fashion – it changed the world.
Madame Pompadour, 1721-1764, was mistress to King Louis XV of France. She possessed great style and is an excellent example of the luxurious costume worn by those on court at Versailles.
Queen Elizabeth I, 1533-1603, was Queen of England, and daughter of Henry VIII. Her reign saw numerous historical changes throughout Europe. She is nicknamed ‘the virgin queen’ as she was never married. Although, a virgin she was not. Her many lovers of her lifetime have been a great topic of discussion and have been the theme of numerous movies.
Ivan Vasilyevich, aka Ivan the Terrible, 1533-1584. Infamous as the Tsar of Russia who killed his own son.
Henry VIII, 1491-1547, was King of England. His historical importance exists on many levels. During the Tudor time period he broke away from the Catholic Church, then the strongest organization in all of Europe to form the Church of England in order to divorce his first wife Katherine and marry Anne Bolelyn. He infamously had several wives sentenced to death. In his portrait here, one can see a (perhaps unfortunate) fashion trend of the time, the codpiece.
Lorenzo DeMedici, 1449-1492. The Medici family sponsored works of art by such artists as Raphel and Michalangelo. They were at the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Their story is one of great historical importance as their efforts in art and architecture can still be seen widely across Europe today.
Circa 1436, Pisano, Portrait of a Princess of the House of Este. This is a classic representation of Italian Renaissance costume. Notice the full forehead, during this time period hair was shaved high back, this was considered an ideal of beauty of the time.
Queen Nefertit of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty circa 1350 B.C.
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