Plate XXIV, Staymaker by Louis-Jacques Goussier

Plate XXIV, Staymaker by Louis-Jacques Goussier

1777

Engraving with Etching

Focusing on highly specialized court dress and historical children's structural garments, Plate XXIV (24) of the Tailleur de Corps (Staymaker) section documents the most advanced tailoring layouts of the period. The engraving depicts a detailed front layout of an open stay with a "duchess-style" lacing system (corps ouvert avec lasset à la Duchesse), alongside precise pattern shapes (patrons) for sleeves, corset fronts and backs, and the structured skirt base of a formal court dress (bas de Robe de Cour). It further provides historical drafting diagrams for a young boy's supportive bodice (poureau pour les garçons) and structured training gowns for young girls (fausses Robes pour les filles). Executed with the meticulous precision characteristic of Enlightenment technical illustration, the plate was designed to document and standardize the highly sophisticated geometric principles behind professional court dressmaking and child support garments. As part of this landmark publication, the engraving reflects the eighteenth century's commitment to the systematic recording and dissemination of practical trades, human labor, and material craftsmanship.

This antique print originates from Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, the monumental reference work edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert. Published in Paris between 1751 and 1772, the original folio edition comprised 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of engraved plates, containing more than 72,000 articles contributed by over 140 writers, scientists, philosophers, and artisans. Conceived as a comprehensive survey of human knowledge, the Encyclopédie documented the sciences, crafts, technologies, and fine arts while also serving as a powerful vehicle for the intellectual ideals of the French Enlightenment. Its emphasis on reason, empirical inquiry, and the dissemination of knowledge challenged traditional authorities and helped shape modern thought, making it one of the most influential publications of the eighteenth century.

Dimensions: H 15” x 10 ¼” W

Condition: some foxing consistent with age