This presumably attempts to depict the duchess of richmond's famous ball on the eve of the battle of waterloo (as dramatized in thackeray's vanity fair). This is an "anti-regency" picture, since the artist seems to be intentionally avoiding depicting women's fashion styles that would be accurate to the year 1815. Instead, the women's clothing shown seems to be based on elements of 1830's and early 1860's fashions, and shows no particular resemblance to the actual styles of 1815 (except perhaps in having a slightly highish waistline). In those mid-victorian days, before the rise of kate greenaway and the "artistic dress movement", it seems likely that some sober-minded people would have felt slightly uncomfortable to be reminded that their mothers or grandmothers had once promenaded about in directoire/empire/regency fashions (which could be considered indecent according to victorian norms) -- and that many would have found it somewhat difficult to really empathize with (or take seriously) the struggles of a heroine of art or literature if they were being constantly reminded that she was wearing such styles. (see file:1857-regency-fashion-crinoline-comparison-joke. Png. ). Object Type: painting. Date: 1868. Medium: painting. Henry-Nelson-O'Neil Before-Waterloo 1868
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