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My small rant on the famous back view Tudor gown picture
The back view is NOT of the same dress. I know. So many people believe it is but there are a few differance that I have seen that make me think they aren't. I'm going to try to outline these differances here.
Starting with the “gabled” hoods. First, has a trim in blackwork wrapped around
the edge (the back facing one). Notice
the crisscross blackwork (?) design on this trim. It does NOT match the front facing model’s trim. The blackwork done on the front facing model’s
hood is different with small design in the middle of the crisscross work. This could be due to an artist’s error, but
looks more like it was on purpose with the rest of the evidence.
Notice on the front facing model’s neck there are two
necklaces. According to her sketch, the
necklaces are visible in the back through the v like slit in the hood covering.
The back facing model shows no evidence
of wearing any necklaces.
The sleeves were the first thing I ever noticed as being
different. One sleeve is clearly made
out of fur while the other is not. The
other has straighter lines and may be made out of the same material as the
gown. It’s impossible to tell whether
the v backing of the back facing model’s gown could or couldn’t be matched with
the front facing model’s gown.
The girdles are also different. The front facing model’s gown has far more
beads than the back facing models. The
back facing model’s girdle also has what looks to be a pomander. This is missing from the front model’s
gown. The beads are separated by one
bead length in the back facing model’s gown while the front facing model’s gown
has a long strand of beads followed by a long chain and then another continuous
strand of beads.
I know by no means will this stop people from claiming that
it is the same gown, but it should at least get people thinking that it might
not be, which is all I can hope for.
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Strawberries N Creame