The Pearl of Venice

This gown is based on Titian's famous 'Garden of Sacred and Profane Love'. In my opinion it's one of the most beautiful gowns represented in Venetian art and it was a joy to try and recreate.

I spent a great deal of time searching for the right fabric. I believe it's the fabric that makes this gown work and I was very lucky to find silk taffeta damask for it. (And even more lucky at finding it for $10/yd)

The bodice is lined with two layers of fine linen to support the gown. It's very short, even by Venetian standards. The sleeves are a full width of cloth each (60") and are pleated at the shoulders into the armseye. Since they are clearly not lined in the painting, I used a flat fell seam to keep things neat and finished.

The skirt is four straight panels, cartridge pleated into the bodice by hand. It's fullness is one of the things I love about this gown, and it makes look right.

The belt is velvet ribbon on a pearl & enameled buckle. The under sleeves are more silk taffeta that I knife-pleated for the upper arm and the lower arm is quilted. Please note that in the painting, she's only wearing one under sleeve. This is my evidence that they are just under sleeves, not a whole under gown, and that they were pinned in place.