Rococo Toy Theater & 18th Century Fashions

Several weeks ago I posted about artwork I created as screensavers for my NOOK e-book reader.
In that post I gave a list of Georgian era romance novels I've enjoyed reading and a list of some I've yet to read.  Well I finally got around to reading "Salt Bride" by Lucinda Brant and was inspired to create a new digital scene based on that novel.

EKDuncan digital scene inspired by the Georgian Romance Novel - Salt Bride by Lucinda Brant

This digital scene was inspired by the Richmond Ball portion of 

the Romance Novel  "Salt Bride" by Lucinda Brant.

Here we have four main characters from the book. To the left is our Hero - The Earl or Salt Hendon and his lovely raven haired wife Jane.  To the left are the Earl's best friend Sir Anthony and his evil drama queen sister Lady Diana St. John.  

The book mainly takes place in 1763; however the fashion plates I had to work with are from the 1770's, so they are not an exact match for the time period.  I've taken a bit of artistic license to best match the images I had to the characters in the book - grins.

In the Book - "Salt Bride"

Jane -  is dressed for the Richmond Ball in a gown of soft blue watered silk with a low square cut bodice. She is wearing the Sinclair betrothal locket around her neck and since she has chosen not to powder her ebony hair. This is Jane's first London ball and also her first step into society as the new Countess of Salt Hendon.

The Earl - is dressed in formal attire with a large amount of medals and honors pined to his waistcoat. His hair is powdered and he has diamond buckles on his shoes and knee breeches. He is enchanted with his new wife and still trying to understand some puzzling issues from their past.

Sir Anthony Templestowe - Is dressed in formal wear of Florentine Green and his hair is also fashionably powdered for the occasion. Tony is doing his best to reign his sister in so that she does not continue to disrupt the Earl's life.

Lady Diana St. John is dressed in an elegant sack back gown of Red and Gold. Diana continues to be her stubborn, contrary self and makes some venomous accusations toward her brother during their confrontation.

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I really enjoyed "Salt Bride" by Lucinda Brant.  It had a little bit of everything to keep the story moving along. Romance, intrigue, several mysteries, a cast of great characters and a not so likable villainess.  The story seemed true to the time period, the characters were flawed - as all good characters should be and the conflicting issues in the story are not what you would typically see in a romance novel - which kept the story interesting (at least to me).  It is a bit sad at times and it makes you think about how very different life was in the 1700's but as in all good romances, true love wins out in the end.

Best of all this book was a "FREE" download.  So if you have never read a Georgian Era romance, want to try a new author or just like free ebooks; then get it while it's still available as a gift from the author to you.  

Thanks Lucinda for a really good FREE read!!! 

Looks like I've found a new author to add to my regular read list.

Salt Bride by Lucinda Brant - FREE e-book download for a Limited time.

   

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A bit more about my digital artscene.

 The background of this scene is my adaptation of a vintage toy theater backdrop of a Rococo Style room.  If it looks a tad familiar... it is the scene that is barely visible in my last post about silhouettes.  I've also used a photo of an oriental carpet, a vintage frame and several vintage fashion plate figures from the Georgian time period.

I've made a few modifications to several of the figures. Some were "flipped" to face in the opposite direction, and I altered the position of the heads on the Earl and Countess. I've also given the Countess ebony hair and place a locket of sapphire and diamond about her neck in my scene.

 The Earl

This is the image I started with prior to my making a few adjustments to the way he looks in the finished scene.  Other colorized versions of him can be found - HERE

The Countess

This is the PNG image I started with for my Countess - she is really Marie Antoinette.

Other color versions of this image can be found - HERE

Sir Anthony Templestowe

This was the PNG I used to depict the Earls friend.

Other color versions of this image can be found - HERE

Lady Diana St. John

This is my altered version of a 1779 fashion plate so the Villianess 

could be properly dressed in Red and Gold as she was in the book.

This is what the original fashion plate looked like.

The original 1779 French Fashion Plate - Theatrical Costume

I removed the background in Photoshop,then created a variety of color schemes for her.

I like the pose of this character, it's very interesting and adds a lot to a scene.

The Original Color Scheme

Green and Teal Version

Green and Plum Version

Sunset and Gold Version

Periwinkle and Gold Version

Green and Gold Version

Gold Version

Blue and Red Version

Plum and Green Version

Teal and Green Version

Plum Version

Teal Version

Gold and Green Version

Pink and Green Version

I always have a hard time finding a stopping point when I come up with my color creations. 

I finally called it quits at fifteen on this one.  She's just such an interesting lady an I had a lot of fun playing with her colors.

Don't forget to download the romance "Salt Bride by Lucinda Brant" while it's still "Free"

Till next time...