What year is the painting, may I ask?
It looks awfully stylized by the artist to me, the exaggerated shape and
feel of the skirts being the same on all figures. But I don't see why this
couldn't be an "en fourreau" gown, or one cut with a separate bodice if late
in
the century. The ladies have aprons but one looks like she has a stomacher
too. So the gowns could be that popular thing in England of gown and petticoat
and trimmings all of one plain fabric....usually with a very wide pannier.
Like Gainsborough's "Mr. & Mrs Andrews" . But upon looking at the painting
I see it appears Mrs. Andrews has a jacket and petticoat arrangement all in
one plain fabric. Interesting.
_http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gainsborough/andrews.jpg_
(http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gainsborough/andrews.jpg)
Then here's "Mary, Countess Howe" all in pink, but without the pannier.
_http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gainsborough/howe.jpg_
(http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gainsborough/howe.jpg)
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