Collections record Beta

Drawing - Costume Design

2019-94-2

Costume design for the Broadway play, "Revenge with Music." Pastel or artist's crayon drawing on tracing paper, mounted on paper board. Drawing of a female figure in off-white or light yellow silk dress with short, puffed sleeves. Pleated skirt with band of decorative silk or embroidery at hem, including metallic bronze decoration. Silver metallic decoration along off-shoulder neckline and cuffs. The woman wears long white gloves; large silver, chandelier earrings; and a bronze, silver, and yellow headpiece. A floor-length shawl or sash extends from the left shoulder and is wrapped around the waist; it is similar in design to the band around the skirt hem, and finished with long, silver metallic fringe. Drawing is surrounded by a simple border of black pastel, with a black business card affixed in the lower-left corner with white text "CONSTANCE/RIPLEY/NEW YORK." In pencil at top of board, "#27."

Constance Ripley designed costumes for Broadway productions in the 1930s after apprenticing with Norman Bel Geddes. After marrying Thomas D. Williams in 1937, the couple moved to Connecticut and settled in Litchfield in 1940. They ran a successful fine arts and antiques business.

The costume design is for the character of Maria, played by Libby Holman in the 1934 production.

• Williams, Constance Ripley, 1904-1993

c.1934

Overall height 20", width 15"

• crayon
• pencil
• pastel
• paper
• paperboard