The 'sack back' remained popular in various forms from the death of Louis XIV of France. The courtly styles had become very stiff and uncomfortable so the looser, more flowing lines of the gowns brought some relief. What happened in France was also the rage in England.

Soon, however, side hoops were introduced to give the figure a wider look.

1.

A lady in a ball gown with 'sack back'.

Circa 1740's

2.

A gentleman.

Circa 1740's

3.

A lady's maid

The close hairstyles giving a 'small' head are beginning to grow.

This is an English lady, but in France they became much larger more rapidly.

4.

A lady of fashion.

Circa 1760's

5.

Two gentlemen swordsmen.

6a.

Gentleman.

7.

A lady in high French fashion.

NB. Place your mouse pointer over this image to view a close-up

By the 1770's the hair, which had been powdered from early in the century and continued so until the French Revolution, rose alarmingly. Further adorned with caps, hats and feathers. At a ball in Versailles the ladies' heads were so tall that the feathers caught fire from the chandeliers.

By contrast the English Court of George III was conservative and slightly stuffy.

8.

French Court lady.

NB. Place your mouse pointer over this image to view a close-up

9.

French Court lady.

10.

French Court lady.

Stockings were gartered, and ladies did not wear anything under their petticoats,

11.

Lady reclining.

12.

Fashionable gentleman.

During the eighties hair generally collapsed and was worn wide at the sides. Skirts lost some of their width unless at a formal occaision, and some French Aristocracy aped 'simple' shepherdesses and the like.

13.

Lady dressed as a shepherdess.

Circia 1780's

14.

French court dancer.

By this time waists had risen a little and although the hair was still 'large' voluminous hats covered it, and it was draped with oriental silks twisted into turbans etc.

15.

An aristocratic couple.

Circia 1780-90's

NB. Place your mouse pointer over this image to view a close-up

16.

A cook/housekeeper.

17.

A nurse and her baby.

18.

An elderly nurse and her baby.

19.

A tipsy butler/footman!

20.

A cook

21.

A young kitchen maid

22.

A peddler woman.

23.

A tinker.

NB. Place your mouse pointer over this image to reveal another view of the tinker

24.

Old Court Lady.

25.

Little black page.