The name of Antoine Watteau (1684–1721), a French painter, used attrib. in Watteau school, Watteau-like adj.; also in designations of articles of female costume similar to those represented in Watteau’s pictures, as Watteau hat; Watteau back, an arrangement of the back of a dress with a broad pleat falling from the neck to the extremity of the skirt without being gathered in at the waist; Watteau bodice, a bodice with square opening at the neck and short ruffled sleeves; Watteau mantle, a kind of cloak having a Watteau back and other details imitated from Watteau’s pictures; Watteau pleat (and ellipt. Watteau, watteau), the pleat of a Watteau back. Hence Watteauish a., resembling the style of Watteau.
1833. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Barrenness Mod. Art. This is well, and Watteauish.
1849. Thackeray, Sk. & Trav., Wks. 1900, VI. 668. Watteau-like groups in shot silks.
1864. Miss A. B. Edwards, Barbara’s Hist., xxvi. The old designs, of a bastard Watteau school, had been lately removed.
1887. Brit. Textile Warehouseman, 15 Sept., 70/1. The back fits the figure, but has a full Watteau pleat down the centre, fastened in at the waist, and then flowing in easy folds to the hem.
1891. Daily News, 12 Dec., 3/1. From the shoulders at the back hung a long Watteau of the richest cut jet.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 22 June, 3/2. Next week I shall give drawings of an Empire and a Watteau hat. Ibid., 23 Nov., 3/1. A heliotrope cashmere tea-gown, made with a Watteau back and a long straight front of silk.
