Philippa Smith Dec 16, 2020:

Yes the period is vital for working out what she's wearing...it could be a flowing gown of some sort, or it could be a cloak. There's the contrast between the 2 drawings - she wouldn't be naked in the preliminary sketch presumably? So what is it about the "drapée" that makes the difference? I found a Degas sketch of "deux femmes dont une drapée" and she's simply wrapped in something like a cloak or fabric: https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/383720830721651576/

ormiston Dec 16, 2020:

Would be great to know which Duchess this is! Or at least knowing the era would help us picture the garment! My thoughts now in view of the (medieval?) Tapestry would tend towards 'fliwing robe' or the like.

Yvonne Gallagher Dec 16, 2020:

@ Asker In art history 'drapé' usually means the way the fabric falls in folds or hangs on the person (or over furniture, windows or whatever!). So "cloak" is possibly overtranslation since we have no pic. Do you have any possibility of some pictorial context? Just to add that artists would usually have fabrics in their studios to drape over people and objects so this could well be the case. However, is this a figure in a tapestry?

Suzie Withers Dec 16, 2020:

I think in English, we would usually say what the figure is draped with, or how they are draped?

Here's a description from the Met Museum of a figure "draped in a classical style"

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12787

Like others have said, if you have the image, it would make your job easier!

Althea Draper Dec 15, 2020:

Without the picture, it's difficult. I'm not sure if this will help, but in this extract of "Le dessin français au XVIIIe siècle", the figures in the drawings on page 111 of 114 (or page 665 of the complete book) shows figures that are described as 'drapés'.

https://issuu.com/baranes/docs/ledessinfran_caiau18esiecle__...

Philippa Smith Dec 15, 2020:

It's hard to know without seeing the image, but it sounds like she's more "wrapped up" - like Ormiston, my thought was that she could be in a cloak.

ormiston Dec 15, 2020:

What century is it ? I feel it's longer than a shawl, more like a cloak...