Men's court dress

Many of the Executive Committee on the left of the painting are wearing court dress. Court dress was highly traditional and old-fashioned, and was based on fashionable styles of the 18th century.

The court suit for men comprised a silk-lined tailcoat of fine wool in a dark colour, often brown or mulberry, worn with knee breeches, an embroidered waistcoat of white or cream silk, silk stockings, a bicorne hat and a sword. Cloth court suits were worn by gentlemen at the most important court occasions.