Title

The International Naval Festival at Cherbourg: the ball at the Hotel de Ville, 1865. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

The International Naval Festival at Cherbourg: the ball at the Hotel de Ville - from a sketch by our special artist, 1865. '...the festivities were brought to a close by a ball at the Hotel de Ville [in Cherbourg, northern France.] The company assembled in three fine saloons - the first the municipal hall proper; the second built since Cherbourg has expanded into its present importance, and called the Emperor's saloon; the third, named the Queen's, as having been used on the occasion of her Majesty's visit, and as containing a magnificent picture of that event...as more than 1500 had been asked and nearly 1200 came, it followed as a matter of course that the throng was somewhat inconveniently dense, and dancing was almost impossible...From the thronged state of the rooms, the whole entertainment partook more of the nature of a stately conversazione than a ball. Still, dancing to a certain, or rather to an uncertain, extent did go on under more or less of difficulties; and it was amusing to see how the "middies" and youngsters from the English fleet always selected the biggest ladies they could find as partners, and with what energy they bounced against group after group in the crowd in their untiring efforts to keep the dancing'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM24A26_303

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

62,6Mb (5,3Mb) / 18,7in x 13,0in / 5619 x 3894 (300dpi)

Keywords

building female women woman people male interior event man men arts dance entertainment France ball chandelier chandeliers art festival evening guy dancing clothes British dancer dancers room color lighting uniform crowded Town Hall naval dress party hotel military war Victorian century Britain inside officer officers newspapers press clothing print concept Hotel de Ville Navy time of day APPAREL B&W manche ball gown warfare engraved engraving ballroom Colour military uniform naval warfare 19th century Indoors black & white black and white B W Basse-Normandie Ballgown white and black evening dress nineteenth century Royal Navy The Print Collector cultural event Illustrated London News TGN ILN Cherbourg newspaper Unknown ball dress hôtel 19th-century clothing & dress fashion & clothing La soiree