Victorian Painting: Girl in Reverie

 

A pretty picture for a lazy Sunday.  It's called "Reverie," by John W. Godward.

Regency Style Orange Walking Dress

I couldn't resist cleaning up and sharing one more Regency era fashion illustration.  This one shows a "walking dress" from 1811.  I guess ladies had special dresses for walks?  Maybe for walking about town?  It certainly is fabulous.  I love the matching little handbag and the head-dress, don't you?

Emily

Victorian Lady in Her Garden

To say goodbye to June, here is a scan of a lovely Victorian painting of a lady in her summer garden.  This is a very large image, suitable for making a print if you like, but as with all the images you can easily resize it to a smaller size for a card, altered art, or jewelry. 

I see roses, daisies, hollyhocks, yellow rudbekia or coreopsis.  Love the white dress with the blue sash and straw hat.  Look behind her at the garden door and you will see she has a visitor.  Wouldn't you love to have an enclosed garden with an old brick wall and wooden door and cobblestone path? So romantic, the perfect spot for a walking daydream.

Emily

Medieval Fantasy Girl?

I think this is a really pretty image, from an old postcard.  The style looks a little Celtic or Arthurian.  She could be a lady from Game of Thrones, from one of the southern lands where it is warm and flowery and they wear brighter colors.  Yes, I'm a Song of Ice and Fire fangirl.  Can't wait for the next book!

Emily

Yellow Label and Frame -- Fabric Label

This pretty image is adapted from an antique fabric label.  You see this type of image online from time to time, but not many people know what they actually are because in my experience not many people selling digital images actually possess the originals.

I like the yellow and gold color with the blue of the portrait, which is very nice.  I've had a request for more labels and frames, so I am also included a version below that is further altered into a blank oval frame. 

Enjoy, please remember to credit Emily's Image Garden and please follow my blog for more images!

Emily

Picnic Lady Photograph Free Vintage Image

Just a cool old photograph dated 1909.  I like the flag in the background.  It makes this seem like it was taken at a July Fourth picnic.  She has a wonderful smile, and that's a pretty summer dress!

Emily

Serene Woman in Classical Costume

This is a gorgeous old Paris postcard of a woman in classical Greek or Roman dress.  I've cleaned it up and repaired it, and added some subtle tint.

This classical theme seems to have been popular for postcards in the Victorian / Edwardian era, for there are many of them in my collection.  I think the pose on this one is particularly pretty and serene.  She could be a goddess, a muse, or just a lady with her thoughts faraway.

Enjoy ~

Victorian Illustrations: The Old Woman Tossed in a Basket

I couldn't resist a couple more pictures of the Old Woman Tossed in a Basket!

The first  is from The Real Mother Goose (1916), illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright. The small black and white drawing is from The Little Mother Goose (1912), illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith.

Witchy Girl / Housewife in Victorian Ad

Here is another woman with a broom to sweep the cobwebs from the sky -- this one from an antique Victorian soap ad. 

I like the contrast yet connection between the sensuous woman on her broomstick and the busy housewife (kitchen maid?) in her kitchen.  Each has the same knowing look on her face, looking right at the viewer, as if they are the same woman!

I hope you enjoy this old advertising art in your creative endeavors.

Fairy Tale Witch and Moon: Nursery Rhyme

There was an old woman tossed up in a basket,
Ninety times as high as the moon;
And where she was going I could'nt but ask it,
For in her hand she carried a broom.

"Old woman, old woman, old woman," quoth I,
"O whither, O whither, O whither, so high?"
"To brush the cobwebs off the sky!"
"Shall I go with thee?" "Aye, by and by."

I remember this nursery rhyme from Mother Goose.  I always liked it.  This version is from The Baby's Bouquet, A Fresh Bunch of Rhymes and Tunes by Walter Crane, with his wonderful illustration.

Diva in Pink

Ooh-la-la, what a diva.  Here is an image of shapely Belle Epoque beauty Arlette Dorgere.  She was a famous lady of the stage, and one of the more popular subjects of French postcards such as this.  I've tinted her a dusky rose pink, which seems to suit her.  I hope she inspires your artwork and crafts and your diva attitude!

Antique Advertising Text and Illustrations

I can never get enough of these old advertising pages, especially when they have fancy borders and cool illustrations.  I love the antique-looking fonts, too.

This is actually a rather larger image, so again remember you can resize large or small for all sorts of projects. 

These ephemera pages make lovely backgrounds, or crop out the illustrations.  Here we have a sewing machine, a cup of instantaneous chocolate ("the greatest invention of the age"), a rolling chair, and "the improved home Turko-Russian folding bath cabinet," in addition to the smart housekeeper answering her door, plus fun text.

Midsummer Girl Reading: Art Nouveau Magazine Cover

Continuing with art and illustration from magazines, here is a beautiful Art Nouveau cover of Century Magazine.  This has lots of pretty details -- I like the red flowers all around the girl, and the sky and forest behind her. 

Art Deco 1920s Corset Ad

Another corset ad, this one from a shop on Fifth Avenue in New York in the early 1920s.  It doesn't actually show the corset, but it's so cute!
"Goodwin corsets provide the most desirable foundation for the gown."
So-called "foundation garments" were a standard part of women's wardrobes for decades to come, well into the 1960s.  How do you think Joan Holloway looked so fabulous gliding through the office on Mad Men? 

Victorian Corsets Vintage Advertising

Always popular, vintage advertising of corsets for the fashionable Victorian lady.  These could be found in the London shop of Mrs. Addley Bourne, which in addition to ladies' garments manufactured and supplied bridal items and baby linens.

This is an older scan that someone sent me, and the clarity of the printing is not quite what I like, but it's so charming I thought I would share anyway.  I'm always on the lookout for more corset pictures...

Victorian Ladies: 1896 Chicago

I haven't decided whether these three fashionable Victorian ladies are sisters or friends.  They don't look much alike, but they are certainly dressed for something special.  Love the hats! 

Sultry Flapper Diva in Blue

Oh my.  The eyes, the lips, the hand, the jewelry.  Such a Diva, not to be trifled with.  If looks could kill, as they say.

Diva! Free Vintage Photo Postcard

I absolutely love these photo postcards of Victorian Edwardian actresses and have quite a collection.  Here is one that just cries out for a caption, or to embellish a card or scrapbook.  Any ideas what's on this fabulous diva's mind?