John Singleton Copley & The Ermine Drape

.What a lovely drape for a portrait. I wish they had similar drapes when I was in school, and the photographers draped black velvet capelets over our shoulders. These ermine Turkish style robes were the perfect complement to the classical portrait costume, in which ladies could be portrayed as timeless entities. No constricting stays, no whims of constantly changing fashion, just a fanciful portrait costume placing them in the ancient cultures so popular during the 18th century.

1761 English Mezzotint by Artist Thomas Frye after a painting of Maria, Countess of Coventry1763 John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). Elizabeth Byles (Mrs. Gawen Brown).
1767 John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). Ann Dumaresq (Mrs. William Turner)1767 John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). Elizabeth Cross (Mrs. Joseph Green).1771 John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). Hannah Fitch (Mrs. Joseph Barrell)..