Robe à la Française
Unknown Artist
ca. 1770
Medium
silk
Classification
Robe à la française
Culture
French
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Bequest, 1961
Accession Number
C.I.61.34a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 18th-century France with the *Robe à la Française a stunning silk gown from around 1770, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume. This exquisite garment, acquired through the Irene Lewisohnquest in 1961, embodies the pinnacle of French aristocratic fashion during the late Rococo era. Known for its elegant silhouette—featuring flowing back pleats (known as *watteau pleats*) that from the shoulders and voluminous skirts supported by panniers—it was the height of sophistication for women of high society. Crafted from luxurious silk, the robe highligh...