An original hand-painted miniature of an elegant late Victorian dinner dress dating to 1886, inspired by an example in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession no. 2009.300.1165).

Painted in pen, ink and watercolour on 300gsm cold-pressed paper, this 4 × 3 inch artwork captures the rich terracotta silk, delicate lace and sculptural drapery that define the fashionable silhouette of the mid-1880s. Every detail has been carefully observed to celebrate the extraordinary craftsmanship of Victorian dress.

This is the original artwork featured as Tiny Tuesday No. 10 on my Instagram and TikTok, where I explore remarkable objects from fashion history through miniature painting.

Signed artwork size: 4 × 3 inches (approximately 10 × 7.5 cm)
Medium: Pen, ink and watercolour on 300gsm cold-pressed paper

Please note that this listing is for the original painting. Fine art prints and greetings cards may become available in the future. Frame not included, but is currently on sale at Oliver Bonas!

Part of the Tiny Tuesdays series, a growing collection of original miniature watercolours celebrating the beauty of historic dress and material culture.