Figure 1.-- We know nothing about this portrait minature of an unidentifoed boy with a pet dog. The boy wears an open-collar tunic with lacy fringe and matching long trousers, done in a light-weight frabic. The dear identifies it as a Russian portrait dating to the 1790s.

We do not yet have much information on Russian 18th century fashion. The great bulk of the population was made up of serfs and peasants in rural areas, including large estates. We believe that boys at the time dressed much as peasant boys did in the 19th century. We have some information as we have some information on the 19th century and beginning in the 1860s even photographs exist. Boys wore tunic-like garments with baggy long trousers. This was the same garments their fathers wore. There does not seem to have been any style for peasant boys. Most went barefoot in the summer. The privlidged classes dressed very differently, considering peasants ucultured and barbaric. They chose French styles if they could afford it. They even preferred to speak French rather Russian. We have some portraits showing us the styles od clothing wirn, our major source of information. Of course the mumber of portait was minisule compared to what ogotography would produce in the 19th century. And they mostly depicted the fashions of the well-to-do. Fashions even for boys could be elaborate. Young bpys wore dresses like their sisters. After breeching boys were dressed like their fathers. They wore a full-skirted knee-length coat, knee breeches, a long vest (waistcoat). Vests at the time could have sleeves. Along with the suit, men and boys wore linen shirts with frills. Men wore silk stockings to cover their legs along with leather shoes. Well-to-do boys wore the new skeleton suits firt with keen britches and by the turn-of-the 19th century long trousers. We note one portrait of a boy wearing a tunic with loose long trousers dine in a light material. We do not know how common these tunic garments were.

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Created: 10:54 PM 6/14/2014
Last updated: 10:54 PM 6/14/2014