Ostentation Collection

Trump Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 2022. Creator: Ethel Davies
Trump Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 2022. The Golden Trump Tower building, gleaming in the sun, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Buffet for a ball at the Hotel de Ville, Paris, 1745 (gouache on paper)
CHT245007 Buffet for a ball at the Hotel de Ville, Paris, 1745 (gouache on paper) by Blondel, Jacques-Francois (1705-74); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

View in the Queens Bazaar, London - Winter Fashions from Nov 1833 to April 1834
GHL179882 View in the Queens Bazaar, London - Winter Fashions from Nov 1833 to April 1834, published by B.Read & Co. 1833 (aquatint on paper) by English School

The Widows Mite, engraved by L. Dumont, c. 1868 (engraving)
OTB141774 The Widows Mite, engraved by L. Dumont, c.1868 (engraving) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83) (after); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Sairey Gamp, from Martin Chuzzlewit, 1923 (colour litho)
KDC465753 Sairey Gamp, from Martin Chuzzlewit, 1923 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sairey or Sarah Gamp; drunken and dissolute nurse)

A Noble Family Distributing Alms in a Park, 1793 (oil on panel)
3930821 A Noble Family Distributing Alms in a Park, 1793 (oil on panel) by Bree, Mathieu Ignace van (1773-1839); 56x84 cm; National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden; Belgian, out of copyright

The Great Akbar (colour litho)
PNP314585 The Great Akbar (colour litho) by Indian School; Private Collection; (add.info.: Mughal emperor of India (1556-1605); ); Peter Newark Pictures; Indian, out of copyright

The Mahratta Chief Tulsaji of Tanjore (colour litho)
PNP314582 The Mahratta Chief Tulsaji of Tanjore (colour litho) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures; English, out of copyright

Fashion plate depicting Summer Fashions for 1844, published by B. Read & Co
GHL179881 Fashion plate depicting Summer Fashions for 1844, published by B.Read & Co. 1844 (acquatint on paper) by English School, (19th century); Length: 62 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Monstrosities of 1821, 1835. Artist
Monstrosities of 1821, 1835. A number of men and women dressed in the exaggerated fashions of the period, promenading in the park. Their dandyism is echoed by a black poodle on the right

Monstrosities of 1819, and 1820, 1835. Artist
Monstrosities of 1819, and 1820, 1835. Candies and dandyzettes promenade in a park

Portrait of Eleanor, Queen of France, c1530-1540. Artist: Joos van Cleve
Portrait of Eleanor of Hapsbourg (1498-1558), Queen of France, c1530-1540. Eleanor of Hapsbourg was Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Portugal, then Queen of France and the second wife of Francois I

Tournament in a Court of the Vatican, Rome, 1565. The tournament was held on the occasion of the marriage of the Count Annibale Altemps, nephew of Pope Pius IV, to Ortenzia Borrome in 1565

Archaic hebrew script from the lintel of a tomb, c. 8th century BC
Archaic hebrew script from the lintel of a tomb near Silwan, Jerusalem. It records that this is the tomb of a Royal Steward

Royal review at Windsor, Queen Victoria and Khedive Ismail Pashe of Egypt, June 26th
XOS1766124 Royal review at Windsor, Queen Victoria and Khedive Ismail Pashe of Egypt, June 26th, 1868 (w/c, gouache and black chalk) by Campion

Debauchery, Raphael Sadeler (I), 1592

Courtier following the last royal edict in 1633 and his lacquey (engraving) (b / w photo)
XIR164572 Courtier following the last royal edict in 1633 and his lacquey (engraving) (b/w photo) by Bosse, Abraham (1602-76) (after); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Peacock displaying. The peacock is the male blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus). Only the male has the showy train of feathers, which it uses in mating displays to females

Peacock displaying. The peacock is the male blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus). Only the male has the showy train of feathers, which it uses in mating displays to females

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"Unveiling the Extravagance: A Glimpse into Ostentation through Art and Fashion" Step back in time to witness the opulence and grandeur captured in various artistic masterpieces. From a lavish buffet at the Hotel de Ville, Paris in 1745 to a bustling view of Winter Fashions at London's Queens Bazaar in the early 19th century, these scenes transport us to an era where excess reigned supreme. Delve deeper into this world as we explore engravings like "The Widows Mite, " depicting society's contrasting displays of wealth and charity. The intricate details etched by L. Dumont around 1868 remind us that even amidst extravagance, acts of benevolence prevailed. Turning our attention to literature, Sairey Gamp from Charles Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit introduces us to a character whose flamboyant attire reflects her larger-than-life personality. This color lithograph from 1923 captures her essence with vibrant hues and playful strokes. Venturing further back, we encounter "A Noble Family Distributing Alms in a Park" painted on panel in 1793. Here, nobility showcases their affluence through charitable gestures while enjoying the beauty of nature—a testament to their social standing. Traveling eastward, vivid color lithographs bring forth images such as "The Great Akbar" and "The Mahratta Chief Tulsaji of Tanjore. " These captivating portraits highlight not only regal figures but also their extravagant clothing adorned with intricate patterns and rich fabrics—an embodiment within different cultural contexts. Shifting gears towards fashion plates, we discover Summer Fashions for 1844 published by B. Read & Co. , showcasing elaborate garments designed for those seeking attention. These illustrations offer glimpses into an era when dressing lavishly was paramount for societal recognition. However, not all depictions are celebratory.