Walking Dress, Plate 31 (from Ackermann's Repository of Arts)
Hand-colored fashion plate print on paper • Published by Rudolph Ackermann; likely after a design by an anonymous illustrator for his periodical
Style & Movement
Regency / Empire period fashion illustration
Medium & Technique
Etching or stipple engraving with original hand-applied watercolor washes
Creation Period
May 1810 (specifically dated to May 1, 1810, per the inscription)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 x 5.5 inches; vertical portrait format typical of octavo periodical plates
Subject Description
A full-length depiction of a lady in Regency-era attire, featured from a rear three-quarter view to show the drape of a long mantle or shawl over a high-waisted white muslin gown. She wears a decorative turban-style bonnet and yellow gloves. The image served as a sartorial guide for high society.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing typical signs of age including light foxing and handling marks consistent with a 200-year-old paper specimen
Estimated Market Value
$40 - $100 USD
Auction Estimate
$30 - $60 USD
Provenance History
Originally bound in 'The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics' published by R. Ackermann at 101 Strand, London. Likely detached from a volume by a print dealer or collector in the 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
Ackermann's Repository was one of the most influential British periodicals of the early 19th century. These plates are primary sources for the study of Regency costume history and represent the birth of high-end fashion journalism.
Notable Features
Includes the original publication line at the bottom: 'Pub. at Ackermann's Repository of Arts 101 Strand, London. May 1, 1810.' and 'Plate 31' in the upper right corner.
Condition Issues
Minor foxing (brown spots) visible in the margins, faint staining or 'offsetting' from the facing page of the original book, and slight yellowing of the paper edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend archival matting with acid-free materials and UV-filtered glass if framed. Keep in a controlled environment to prevent further foxing from humidity.