Opera Dress
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Hamill and Barker
Accession Number
1962-143-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of Regency-era fashion *Opera Dress* (1811), a print by Rudolph Ackermann (1764–1834). Born in Germany and later a prominent English publisher, Ackermann founded the renowned *Repository of Arts*, a monthly magazine that showcased the latest trends in clothing, interiors, and architecture through exquisite color plates. This piece, now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (gift of Hamill and), captures the sophisticated attire worn by women attending the opera—a pinnacle of social entertainment in early 19th-century London. Created during the Regency...