The Spring (Evening gown)

This sheath dress with trumpet bell skirt and draping of tulle embroidered with plant and floral designs is inspired by Flora’s dress in Botticelli’s famous “Allegory of Spring”. It was shown for the first time in 1906, at the International Exhibition in Milan and is an extraordinary example of the creative genius of Rosa Genoni, who is credited with founding Italian fashion. Her technical experimentation did in fact merge perfectly with the quest to create a style and shapes that could be defined as authentically Italian. Rosa Genoni’s ambitious project to redefine Italian costume finds its roots in Italian art history and especially in the Renaissance. The particular techniques used on this dress are clearly recorded on the patterns that can be viewed within the vast sample collection of embroidery, braiding and lace, some of which made by the students at the Professional School for Women at the Società Umanitaria in Milan, where she founded and directed the dressmaking department.

Acquisition: Donated by Fanny Podreider