18th Century French Fashion Plates in Full Color

The Galerie des Modes has been called the “most beautiful collection in existence on the fashions of the eighteenth century.” Published over a 10-year period, from 1778 to 1787, its plates were elegantly drawn, accurately engraved, and exquisitely hand colored by the most celebrated fashion artists of the era. This monument to costume illustration was reproduced by Emile L vy in Paris between 1911 and 1914. Here are 64 of the finest plates from the L vy edition, reproduced faithfully from the…