Are there any authentic images of her? I have a costume book that shows an aristocrat choosing fabrics "chez Bertin" but I think it might be one of those 19th century "historical" paintings based on the style. This is the only image I could find:



Are there any others?

I found a picture of her. Here is the description: "Madeline Rose Bertin by Jean-Francios Janinet 1752-1814. This charming watercolour was painted around 1780 and shows Marie Antionette's dressmaker Rose Bertin."

I saw that picture too but I was not sure if it was her. Thank you! I will make a scan of that image I talked about above.

It certainly looks like the same mouth and nose in those two pictures, but it's hard to know if it is really authentic pictures (I mean all pictures from this time), especially when they're on the net. Looking forward to seeing your image though.

I believe the picture youre talking about is the one in my avatar. I'm not sure if its her or not but my costume history book says it is. of course you cant believe everything you read.

That's the same one, but like I said I think it's one of those historical paintings made in the 19th century, like the one of Lady Jane Grey.

I have no idea; I would like to know though. There's such little information on her.

I found this picture of Rose Bertins home on a french website...
http://www.topic-topos.com/d-seine-saint-denis_c-Epinay-sur-seine_obj-93130116_13_2

Here's the translation of the text:
In this abode lived Rose Bertin (1747 – 1813), woman of ambition and of talent that, after beginning as simple apprentie in a method house, opens in 1770 a shop in Paris to the sign of the Big Mongolian. Its dresses, its hats said to the "Montgolfier" or to the "Philadelphia", sensitive to the current event of the time, know with the queen Mary antoinette (1755 – 1793) and elegant others of the course a resounding success. His flourishing business, that employs thirty workers and develops in all Europe, put a time in peril by the economical crisis of 1775 and the events of 1789, declines only at the time of the wars of the first Empire. This is at Épinay, in a property bought in 1782, that Rose Bertin finds the rest. Set up in this place since the years 1795 – 1796, she there finishes its days.

I wish there were a bio on her, she seems quite interesting, and also, Are the records of purchases that still survive?
meaning, all the orders and customers and things?

There is a biography on her written by Emile Langlade, which is quite interesting. It does feature invoice lists which include a breakdown of price per piece. Although I believe she destroyed Marie Antoinette's particular invoices to keep her expenditure on clothing unknown when she was accused of ruining state finances. There are some wonderful anecdotes. Including the court case which dragged on for months whereby Rose was accused of spitting in the face of a woman who used to work for her and went on to set up her own business and tried stealing a good many of Rose's clientele.

so emily langlade? what is the title of the book?

OMG this is the only one I could find for sale and its $395!!!

lol, ebay :]
yum, i ordered mine!

you paid 395 for it!

I wish I could afford that.

ehhehe credit card :]