Photograph of Mrs. Paran Stevens as Queen Elizabeth

26 March 1883

Photograph of Mrs. Paran Stevens costumed as Queen Elizabeth from the 1883 Vanderbilt Fancy Dress Ball album, taken by Jose Maria Mora (Cuban, c. 1847-1926). A contemporary account from The Sun described her costume: "The material of the dress was silk velvet and the color royal purple. The front breadths of the dress and stomacher were silver brocade crossed and recrossed with gold lace and studded with precious stones. The high ruff around the neck was of lace embroidered with golden flowers and bordered with pearls. The purple-bodies waist had silver brocade sleeves with slashes of purple, while on the point of each shoulder was a roll sprinkled with pearls. The royal purple robe fell to the floor and trailed for over a yard. It was fringed a foot deep with ermine, and festoons of pearls fell down the back. In her hand was a fur fan, white and studded with jewels in the centre."

American

photographic print

Mat window opening: 6.5 x 11 inches (16.5 x 27.9 cm)

Bequest of Harold S. Vanderbilt

PSNCA.H.018.9