Connections between dress and the decorative arts through a portrait in the European painting galleries in conjunction with objects in the Wrightsman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Overview: Students will explore the connections between dress and the decorative arts through a portrait in the European painting galleries in conjunction with objects in the Wrightsman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art by acting as a “personal shopper” for an 18th century person in need of some new lifestyle accoutrments. The Wrightsman Galleries are located in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Galleries on the first floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. European painting is located on the second floor. Pick up a floor plan at the museum and be sure not to miss any galleries. Project Perimeters 1. First, head to the European painting galleries on the second floor, and find a portrait of a living person from the 18th century between the dates 1740-1789 that you can research. Find out a little about the sitter’s life and discuss how the interaction between the sitter of the portrait and their clothing (using correct terms from your vocabulary list) and any objects found in the picture (decorative arts, interior furnishings etc) are representative of 18th century European style and mannerisms, including the interaction between clothing movement, carriage, and decorative arts. Be sure to really discuss the details you see of the clothes and accessories and how they represented popular fashion at the time. Don’t forget to look at the kind of clothing (robe franchise or robe anglaise, or habit franchise or frock coat), any trimmings or embellishments, the type of material and how it speaks to popular trends in clothing, accessories like hats, gloves, baskets, lace etc. Use your readings, The Elegant Art of Movement and Interior Motives: Seduction by Decoration in 18th Century France to discuss how clothing and furniture interacted. 2. Use the person from your chosen portrait as the basis for a project in which you act as a personal shopper, choosing six items from the Wrightsman Galleries that you would “curate” for that person if you were their personal shopper in the 18th century and they had hired you to help them purchase objects that would help them live a fashionable life and be seen by their peers as fashionable. These objects can be anything found in the Wrightsman galleries and should include a wide selection of items from furniture and textiles to wall panelings and mirrors– to smaller objects like statuettes and accessories like necessaire kits, snuff boxes or jewelry. 3. Choose two clothing ensembles from the 18th century that you would present to your client (these can be sourced from online or books of museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of art, the Kyoto collection, The Victoria and Albert museum etc) for a wardrobe update. Make sure that you can explain with each choice why you specifically chose the garment for your client, how it would be a useful addition to their closet, and how it would update their wardrobe. With each of the six objects and the two clothing ensembles, include the following information: 1. A clear picture OR sketch of each item 2. Explanatory notes consisting of info from museum labels (artist, date, materials, accession numbers) 3. What materials were used by the artist/artisan to create the piece, and how the materials would be considered a good “luxury choice” for your client 4. How this person would use the item, and why it is a good choice for your client 5. How user would interact with the item, and how and why the item would make them appear fashionable or help them fit in with fashionable ways of living in the 18th century society (you must support each object choice with evidence from your readings–Interior Motives and The Elegant Art of Movement (found below) You should present the items with the visuals (item pictures/sketches) and their basic label information (artist, date, materials, museum accession number )on one page, putting it together like a visually attractive brochure. On another page place your typed answers addressing why you chose each item for your client. Attention should be paid to the craft and execution of your “brochure” . It should be put together with an encompassing aesthetic, style and theme that correlates to your visit, while being be attractively and artistically presented (use photoshop or hand decorate this). This is the minimum requirement — add whatever else you wish to craft your proposal that records your experience and that you will make your “client” excited to purchase the items. Be sure to do these readings BEFORE going to the museum so you have an idea of what kind of items to find for your client. Also, watching the movie Dangerous Liaisons (assigned for your weekly reading) will help give you a good understanding of fashionable living in the 18th century. *** NOTE: YOU CAN CHOOSE THE OBJECTS THROUGH THE WEBSITE INSTEAD THE ACTUAL MUSEUM www.metmuseum.org