Renaissance Vans (the shoe, not the auto)?

[isabelladangelo]

http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=159468363

Check out the lady in white. If you zoom on to her hands, you'll see the slip ons that look like medieval Vans. :-) (Yes, I am well aware that the construction is totally different. I'm just thinking overall shape here and my first impression. Although, it does make me want to get some heavy red leather and softer white leather and make a pair of shoes....)

Comments

[cathgrace.livejournal.com]

I saw this one for the first time only a couple of months ago, as I think the southeby's auction was the first time this picture made it on the net. The shoes are more likely then not a soft pair of white indoor shoes with a pair of cow mouth shoes slipped over the top for outside. What I thought was even more interesting about this picture was that this painting was the first time I had ever seen a full back of a saxon gown, even when I went to museums in Germany and Paris with literally dozens and dozens of saxon paintings they never had a back.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

I think I've seen one other with the back of the dress shown. I'll try and find it again. It is really cool though as is. What really got me was the lady bending over. It looks like she is wearing only the petticoat and the "corset".

[cathgrace.livejournal.com]

http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=159429204
is another one with the back showing, it's just really obscured by the gold chains, and is so low it’s actually not practical for wear and keeping your shoulder straps up, so who knows exactly how much artistic license was taken, but I guess the same could be said about almost any painting.

I am not sure what you mean about the “corset” and petticoat; Germans during this period were un-corseted as far as I have ever been able to tell, and the whole dress reads dove grey blue to me with the same color on the bodice, with the gold and black guarding over the shoulders, and bust piece. The interesting thing about this dress to me is the uncommon lack of guarding (although the lady in white in this painting has no guarding either) and her lack of sleeves, although I suspect that is more allegorical representation of her station then anything.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

On the other computer it looks like it was white on the guard under her arm. On this computer it just looks like "shine".


Cool! I don't remember seeing that one before. All I remember about the painting I saw that it was in connection with someone's dress diary and the dress was just drop dead gorgeous. I'll look and see if I find it.

EDIT:
Found the one I was thinking of!

http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_e/8/6fountai.jpg


...and this one is earlier but shows a more practical back:
http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_y/christ_b.jpg

[cathgrace.livejournal.com]

the fountain of youth is a very famous one, the only trouble with that back and the one from the christ one is that it is not guarded or styled like a "saxon" gown it is a gown from saxony, but it is not the style with the bust piece and the lacing across the belly.

[operafantomet.livejournal.com]

Oooh, cool painting!

I agree about the backside of the dress - I had actually assumed it would be higher.

And yes, you need such shoes in red/white...

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_e/4/01mysti1.jpg

When I saw Saint Catherine's gown, I was surprised because you can see the blackwork on the chemise on her back pretty far down. (Does that make sense?)

But yes, red and white shoes are so necessary. Everyone should have a pair.