White silk waistcoat with high stand collar and straight hem edge. Very deep border at front edges of a curving, flowering vine. At the bottom, embroidered figures in classical dress stand in front of a stone balustrade with urns of flowers and fruit trees. The figures represent Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas, from the opera by Piccini and Marmontel, produced in 1785. The figure of Dido is after a drawing by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune for the costume worn by Mlle. de Saint-Huberty. In twenty-five colors of silk.

This object is currently on display in room 205 as part of Embroidered and Embellished. There are 2 other images of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag royal court, men's clothing, personal adornment, theater, opera, flowering vine.

See more objects with the color gainsboro tan dimgrey grey sienna or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1962	We acquired this object.
1970	We photographed this object.
2013	This was an Object of the Day.
2014	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2019	You found it! We exhibited this object.

Waistcoat (France), 1785–95

This is a Waistcoat. It is dated 1785–95 and we acquired it in 1962. Its medium is silk and metallic embroidery on silk foundation, linen back and its technique is embroidered in silk in knot, stem, and satin stitches; metallic yarn in satin stitch; couched silk cord; appliqué of three plain weave silk fabrics; on plain weave foundation. It is a part of the Textiles department.

This handsome waistcoat depicts Dido and Aeneas in a scene from Didon, a popular 1783 opera by the composer Niccolò Piccini (Italian, 1728–1800) based on Virgil’s Aeneid. Set in the 9th-century-BCE city of Carthage, the two main characters stand before a low-latticed wall topped with ornamental urns filled with flowers. The setting evokes the late-18th-century interest in classical forms of antiquity as well as less formal garden settings.

This object was featured in our Object of the Day series in a post titled Inspired by Opera.

This object was bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf (American, 1887–1961). It is credited Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf.

Cravat end with many figures engaged in musical pursuits, including a woman playing the organetto or portative, a man playing the cello, a man playing the recorder or flute, and several men and women singing. Surrounded by foliage and rocaille decoration.

Cravat End (France), 1695–99
linen.
Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma....
1962-50-18-b

Needle lace cravat end with a delicate all-over floral design and figures, including a figure dressed as a warrior, wearing a helmet in form of a double-headed eagle, standing on a trophée flanked by kneeling warriors; the scene surmounted by a royal crown and surrounded by dolphins, winged putti, warrior figures and foliated sprays.

Cravat End (France), ca. 1695
linen.
Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma....
1962-50-18-a

Its dimensions are

H x W: 64.8 x 56.5 cm (25 1/2 x 22 1/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Waistcoat (France), 1785–95; Previously owned by George Saville Seligman ; silk and metallic embroidery on silk foundation, linen back; H x W: 64.8 x 56.5 cm (25 1/2 x 22 1/4 in.); Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf; 1962-54-47

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2Cx8P/
Accession Number 1962-54-47
Object ID 18445265