VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents their  October Artful Thursday: Ribbon Wars,  Thursday,October 20, 2011 at 6:30 PM, at the Caroline Wiess Law Building. Presented by Paige Willson, Assistant Professor of Costume Design and Technology, School of Theatre & Dance, University of Houston and Lecturer, Theatre Program, Rice University.

The color of a ribbon, the width of a lady’s skirt, the position of man’s feet or a lady’s hands—duels aside, these were the powerful weapons that sealed political alliances and fueled the creation and distribution of wealth in the royal courts of 18th century France.

At the beginning of the century, Louis XIV, the Sun King, set the stage by devising an ingenious system of clothing ‘rewards’ to keep the loyalties of his nobles in check, and an elaborate system of ‘etiquette’ movements that dictated how an aristocrat stood when talking with someone of equal or lower rank. Who had time for revolution when fashion and movement were the rungs of the social-climbing ladder?

Paige Willson weaves a lively story of fashion and dance in 18th century France, showing how the increasingly elaborate styles and mannerisms of the period defined new norms of elegance, and led to the redesign of furniture and the development of ballet, still regarded as the most refined form of Western dance.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Pictured:  François Boucher, detail Lady Fastening Her Garter (also known as La Toilette), 1742, oil on canvas, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.