Performance costume in 18th-century France: Louis-René Boquet between tradition and reform

Abstract

"Using as its lens the leading costume designer of the French court and the Paris Opera, Louis-René Boquet (1717-1814), Zeller Dotlacilová traces the development of the costume reform in 18th-Century France from an aesthetics of propriety, defined by strict conventions, to an aesthetics of truthfulness drawing on models from both the visual arts and real life"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Introduction. Studying historical costume in performance ; Boquet between tradition and reform -- 1. Making of Costume for Performing Arts. Design Process at the French Court and the Opéra ; Costumes at Comédie-Française, Comédie-Italienne and Opéra Comique ; Self-fashioning at the Opéra: Designer versus the Soloists ; Shaping Costumes According to Performing Arts and Gender -- 2. The Tradition, or the Aesthetics of Propriety. To dress properly: social norms of clothing ; 'Something rich and yet true to nature': verisimilitude and the merveilleux ; The Artistic Genres: Rules and Principles ; Dressing the genres: French costumes for opera and ballet before Boquet ; Breaking point: Expanding genres and fashions ; The freedom of the fairground theatre and the Comédie-Italienne -- 3. The First Wave of Reform, or Towards the Aesthetics of Truthfulness. What is a 'truthful costume'? ; Les philosophes on costume and dress ; The Reform in Practice: The Problem of Genre -- 4. Reform at the Opéra and at the court. Between the court and the Foire: shepherds, peasants and Le Devin du village ; Le Devin du village: a play with the appearances ; First Greeks 'correctly costumed in ancient style' at the Opéra ; 'Costumes of all ages and countries' -- 5. How to Dress Dance. Development and diversity of dance techniques ; Habit sérieux ; Habit demi-caractère ; Habit comique -- 6. Towards the Second Wave of the Reform, and Beyond. New fashions, new costumes: the triumph of simplicity ; Boquet and Neoclassicism ; Representing the people? ; Stage costume between nature and art -- Glossary.