French Court Dress, Grand Judge, Master of the University and Court Lady, 1842

An original antique lithograph with hand coloring, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). In the upper image two officials stand in long ermine lined robes and tall caps. The left one wears a red buttoned gown under a blue mantle, a cross on a ribbon at his neck, and holds an open document. The right one wears a pale blue gown with a gold sash under a broad ermine cape, a red book under his arm. In the lower image a man in a black bicorne with white plumes, a red cloak lined with ermine and edged in gold, a white embroidered coat and white breeches extends his hand toward a lady in a white court gown embroidered in gold, with puffed red and white sleeves, a long crimson train and a white plumed headdress.

The top margin is lettered "Tav 25" at upper left, "FRANCIA" at center and "Tom IV" at upper right. The captions read "Gran Giudice e Ministro di Giustizia" (Grand Judge and Minister of Justice), "Maestro dell' Università" (Master of the University), "Ciambellano" (Chamberlain) and "Dama di Corte" (Lady of the court).

The title Grand Judge was held by the French Minister of Justice under Napoleon's Consulate and Empire, and the Imperial University was founded by Napoleon in 1808. The chamberlain and the lady of the court complete the picture of ceremonial dress at the imperial court.

The ermine, red and gold of these costumes make a rich plate for a collection of court or official dress.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.