Hello,
Welcome to this third chapter of my overview of the evolution of women's clothing in New France. Around 1670, the last contingents of Filles du Roy crossing the Atlantic were increasingly reduced. In 1673, the last year of this settlement policy, only about sixty women made the crossing.
I left you in chapter 2 with this painting representing both a ''Grand Habit'' (Court gown) in pink on the right and a back coat in black and yellow:
Louis XIV devant la grotte de Téthys Artist Anonymous After 1670 Collection du Château de Versailles |
The fashion of the mantua in English and Spanish, is called ''manteau'' in French and is the new fashion emerges during the decade 1670 in the metropole. In my opinion, this fashion is a first step towards the frequent and continuous renewal of fashions that France has known since that time. This helped Louis XIV to establish his kingdom as a model in terms of dress fashion.
La jeune fille de l'artiste qui s'occupe de son frère; Artist: Claude Lefebvre, between 1670 and 1675, Collection du Musée National Magnin, Dijon |
La couturier Engraving of late 17th century, édited 1750 Source: Gallica |
Blason des couturières de Paris Source: Catawiki |
Pour faire valoriser sa manchandise on méprise celle d'autrui Gravure de 1695, édité en 1750 Source: Gallica |
The fashion of the ''manteau'', which interests me in this article, is possibly a direct repercussion of the edict of March 1673, and of the officialization of the trade of seamstresses. The legalization of the profession of master seamstress does not prevent the continuation of the legendary disagreement with the tailors. So much so that in their corporate articles, it is forbidden for master seamstresses to marry a tailor. Contrary to the ''Grand habit'' (court gown) which remain the preserve of the tailors by their adjustment of baleens on the well fitted bodices, it is allowed for the seamstresses to manufacture the new fashion of the ''manteau'' (mantua).
Madame la duchesse du Maine, Artiste Henri Bonnart, End of 17th century, Collection of Château de Versailles. |
Dame en habit garni d'agréement Artiste anonymous around 1685-1690 Collection du Rijksmuseum |
The fashion of the coat varies the textures and colors between the skirt, the coat and its lining.
esquisse d'une femme agenouillée Artiste Antoine Watteau No datation Source: Artnet |
Under the article ''manteau'' in the Dictionary of the French Academy of 1694, we can read «les femmes appellent aussi manteau, une espèce de robe plissée qu'elles portent avec une ceinture » (women also call manteau, a kind of pleated dress that they wear with a belt). With the mantua, the supportive garment of the time, which was then called stays or boned bodies (today often confused with the corset), becomes an undergarment and this definitively in the daily wardrobe of the well-to-do . Equipping a robe with baleen is a long and costly process that will continues for the Court Gown. The mantua, unlike the latter, makes it easier to vary the exterior outfit. The stays an essential accessory but independent of the ''manteau'' and covered by it.
Définition du mot manteau Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française, dédiée au Roy 1694 Tome 2, M-Z Page 21 Source: Gallica |
Where does this term come from, ''manteau''?
Today, the term manteau is generally translated with the word coat in English.The term ''manteau'' first appeared in French vocabulary, or should I say Proto-French, as early as the 12th century and referred to the idea of covering. Initially, the ''manteau'' was synonymous with the cape, from 1670 it was also the last piece of clothing that ladies put over their bodies. The ''manteau'' or mantua of women at the end of the reign of Louis XIV is, most of the time, open in front, revealing either the stays or a stomacher, which gallantly covers the opening left by the mantua. The Mercure Galant, the first fashion magazine and official show review, noted in 1678 that:
« on n'y met presque plus que ce qui s'appelle des manteaux. Les robes ne sont que pour les visites de cérémonies ou pour celles qu'on rend aux gens d'un rang plus élevé que celui que l'on tient, & on ne s'en sert ni pour voir familièrement ses amies, ni pour les parties de promenade.»
“We hardly put any more in them than what are called ''manteaux''. The dresses are only for ceremonial visits or for those which one returns to people of a higher rank than that which one holds, and one does not use them neither to see familiarly one's friends, nor for walks. "
Pages 380 et 381 Mercure Galant, Quartier de Janvier 1678 Tome 1 Source: Google Books |
Femme de qualité en déshabillé d'été Artiste Jean Dieu de St-Jean 1683 Source: Gallica |
Femme de Qualité en déshabillé d'étoffe siamoise Jean Dieu de St-Jean 1687 Source: Gallica |
The cut of the ''manteau'' is complex, as is the way of wearing it. It is formed of wide pleats at the back (sometimes sewn, sometimes only placed) as well as a clever roll-up of this abundance of fabric under the belt which allows you to see the lining of the mantua. If the ''Grand Habit'' is characterized by the uniformity of the fabrics of the visible skirt and the bodice, the coat varies the patterns and colors of the fabrics between the coat, its lapel, the skirt and the stomach piece. It was in the decade of 1680 that the term ''falbala'' appeared, originally designating a pleated band regularly arranged on the skirt that decorates it.
Femme de qualité en Stenkerke et falbala Artiste Jean Dieu de St-Jean 1693 Source: Gallica |
Louise Benedicte de Bourbon, Duchesse du Maine Artiste Jean Mariette XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle Collection du Château de Versailles |
Études de coiffure à la Fontange Artiste Bernard Picart 1703 Collection du Rijksmuseum |
This high hairstyle with lace, visible on several of the portraits presented so far, is characteristic of the last decades of the reign of Louis XIV and is called the Fontange. According to legend, Mlle de Fontange would have improvised this arrangement of hair during a royal hunting party in 1679. After a fall or simply a panting ride, she finds herself disheveled. She would have raised her hair on the top of her head with a simple ribbon in order to continue the equestrian activity. The Sun King would have liked it so much that he would have asked her to spend the evening wearing her hair like this. The next day all the ladies of the Court already wore this hairstyle in height, wanting to please His Majesty Louis XIV. Information taken from the book «Histoire des modes et du vêtement, du Moyen-Âge au XXIe siècle» (History of fashions and clothing, from the Middle Ages to the 21st century).
I haven't found any primary sources for this legend, which has multiple versions. In some, it is a garter that acts as a ribbon. In others, a twig has become entangled in the hair, allowing the hairstyle to gain height. This legend shows how easily a new fashion could be created at the court of Versailles.
Mlle de Fontange's stay at court was very brief, from 1679 to 1680 before dying in June 1681. She was the last mistress of the Sun King before he married Mme de Maintenon. The indications that I have found so far do not allow us to know whether Mlle de Fontange herself knew that she had created a fashion hairstyle.
The Fontange and the mantua are possibly the fashion items for which we have the most documentation in New France. In addition to appearing in painting in two ex-votos painted in New France, that of Mme Riverin and that of the sick child of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges museum, the hairdressing named Fontange is also named in the nouveaux voyages de M. Baron de Lahontan dans Amérique Septentrionale (new voyages of M. Baron de Lahontan in North America) published in 1703. The latter describes the zeal of the priests of New France who refuse communion to the women of the nobles for a simple Fontange of color.
Detail of ex-voto of Madame Riverin Date 1703 Auteur Anonymous Collection of Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec Crédit photo: Joseph Gagné |
Ex-voto of the Sick Child Date 1697 Artiste Anonyme Collection of Musée régional Vaudreuil-Soulanges |
Moreover, the writings of this period in New France which speak of women's clothing at the end of the 17th century come mainly from clergymen who complain about female indecency in dress.
Monsignor de Laval used his pen to express his irritation towards the women of his parish who appeared in the church grounds too naked for his liking. I quote from an extract from his Mandement contre le luxe et vanité des femmes et filles dans l'Église (Mandement against the luxury and vanity of women and girls in the Church) of 1682:
«De quels crimes ne sont pas punissables et de quels punitions ne doive pas attendre celles qui portent cet appareil fastueux jusque dans nos églises, paraissant dans ces lieux consacrés à la prière et à la pénitence avec des habits indécents, faisant voir des nudités scandaleuses de bras, d'épaules et de gorges, se contentant de les couvrir de toile transparente, ce qui sert bien souvent à donner plus de lustre à ces nudités honteuses »
"For what crimes are not punishable and what punishments should not expect those who wear this sumptuous apparatus into our churches, appearing in these places devoted to prayer and penance with indecent clothes, showing scandalous nudities of arms, shoulders and throats, contenting himself with covering them with transparent cloth, which often serves to give more luster to these shameful nudities ”
Portrait de Madame Helyot Artistes: Gérard Edelinck, Claude François et Jacques Galliot 1685 Source Gallica |
Monseigneur de Laval, the first bishop of Quebec, probably dreamed of making all the women of the colony as pious and devout women as Madame Heylot. Unfortunately for him, coquetry and vanity did not stay in France and spread throughout the colony.
Dame se promenant à la Campagne Artiste Jean Dieu de St-Jean Vers 1675- 1683 Source: Gallica |
The neckline of the ''manteau'', about which Bishop Monsignor de Laval probably complains, varies from one engraving to another. Some, like these, show a low neckline that undoubtedly made several clergymen like Monseigneur de Laval tick.
Dame en habit de ville Artist: Jean Dieu de St-Jean End of 17th century Collection of Musée Carnavalet |
There are a few rare copies of mantuas in museums, however they are of other nationalities than French for those I know and relatively late in the period.
Mantua British Artist Anonymous End 17th century Collection MET, metropolitan museum of art |
Mantua Italian Artist Anonymous Around 1700 Collection LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
Mantua origine britannique Artiste inconnu vers 1708 Collection MET, metropolitan museum of art |
Louis XIV touchant les malades des écrouelles Artist Jean Jouvenet No datation Collection de l'Abbatiale de Saint-Riquier Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Vue perspective du Bosquet de la Galerie des Antiques Artist Jean-Baptiste l'Ainé Martin 1688 Collection of Château de Versailles |
I love these perspective views with lots of little details that I am happy to share with you.
Detail of Vue perspective du Bosquet de la Galerie des Antiques Artist Jean-Baptiste l'Ainé Martin 1688 Collection of Château de Versailles |
Detail of Vue perspective du Bosquet de la Galerie des Antiques Artist Jean-Baptiste l'Ainé Martin 1688 Collection of Château de Versailles |
Some ladies, like this one in blue and purple, prefer to keep the ''Grand Habit'' or court gown on as they stroll through the gardens around Versailles.
Detail of Vue perspective du Bosquet de la Galerie des Antiques Artist Jean-Baptiste l'Ainé Martin 1688 Collection of Château de Versailles |
The attention to detail of the costumes fascinates me, especially for a landscape work. The black lining of this red mantua creates a dramatic effect in my opinion.
Detail of Vue perspective du Bosquet de la Galerie des Antiques Artist Jean-Baptiste l'Ainé Martin 1688 Collection of Château de Versailles |
The ''manteau'' also appears in paintings of outdoor events such as this visit to Marseilles:
Le marquis de Seignelay et le duc de Vivonne visitent la galère Réale dans l'Arsenal de Marseille Artist Anonymous Around 1677 Collection of Château de Versailles |
A few ladies joined to visit the galley:
Detail of Le marquis de Seignelay et le duc de Vivonne visitent la galère Réale dans l'Arsenal de Marseille Artiste Anonymous Around 1677 Collection of Château de Versailles |
Other perspective prints show female walkers dressed in mantuas.
''Vue de la fontaine du point du jour (cabinet des combats d'animaux sud) dans les jardins de Versailles'' Artists: Dominique Girard and Jean Raymond 1714-1715 Collection of Château de Versailles |
Detail of ''Vue de la fontaine du point du jour (cabinet des combats d'animaux sud) dans les jardins de Versailles'' Artists: Dominique Girard et Jean Raymond 1714-1715 Collection of Château de Versailles |
''Vive Paris on a tout a souhait'' Engraving of Nicolas Guérard 17th century Collection of Musée Carnavalet |
''Parguyé je suis François et non pas Turcque..'' Engraving of Nicolas Guérard 17th century Collection du Musée Carnavalet |
The roll-up of the bottom of the mantua is more messy for ordinary women than those of ''dames de qualité'' but the imitation is visible.
''Tu as menti vilain hatabas'' Engraving of Nicolas Guérard 17th century Collection du Musée Carnavalet |
''Diverses petitte Figure des Cris de Paris'' Engraving of Nicolas Guérard 17th century Collection du Musée Carnavalet |
Some hairstyles are more like Fontange than others.
''L'embaras de Paris'' Engraving of Nicolas Guérard First quarter of 18th century Collection du Musée Carnavalet |
Portrait of Mme Monginot and her husband Artist Jean-François Troy Around 1710-1713 Collection of Musée d'Art de Nantes |
This mantua is sober, made of brown velvet with black velvet lapels also visible at the neckline and sleeves.
We can say that the fashion of the ''manteau will last for forty years, until around the 1710s.
As we will see in the next article, the coat will evolve into the next fashion: the ''robe volante'', in its beginnings called the ''manteau volant''.
Amour paisible Artist Antoine Watteau 1718-1719 Collection of Musée du Château de Charlottenburg Source: Universalis.fr |
While I present fashions chronologically, it must be remembered that the emergence of a new fashion at the expense of another is a slow process that causes periods of overlap as in this portrait of Antoine Watteau where the mantua is alongside the next fashion, the ''robe volante'.