Venetian tunic

This long, voluminous flaring tunic made of four cobalt blue silk satin panels, is fully open at the front. It has an overlapping closure, an asymmetrical, lightly V-shaped neckline and an asymmetrical waistline. The full, rectangular sleeves reach down to the wrists.

The tunic, which was part of Eleonora Duse’s wardrobe, may be dated to the 1910s, a period during which the star turned her back on the stage, before making a dazzling comeback in the 1920s.

Donated by Suor Mary Mark , 1993.