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Elsa Schiaparelli Most Popular Paintings

The 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 18 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Elsa Schiaparelli · 1890 – 1973

The Tears Dress

1938 · Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Delve into the captivating world of Elsa Schiaparelli’s "The Tears Dress," a pivotal piece from her 1938 ‘Circus’ collection. This analysis examines its composition, symbolism, stylistic influences (Surrealism), and historical context—a daring statement against societal norms as Europe braced for war.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17024 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Evening ensemble

1937 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 12 x 22 cm

Surrealist magic in Elsa Schiaparelli's 1937 Evening Ensemble; explore the dreamlike fusion of velvet and art to bring haute couture fantasy home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17027 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Shocking

1937

A surrealist vision of the iconic Shocking perfume bottle by Elsa Schiaparelli from 1937 featuring bold pink tones and avant-garde design that invites you to explore this masterpiece of fashion history.

View the artwork

The Circus Collection

1938 · Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Circus Collection showcases Schiaparelli’s daring blend of Surrealism and fashion, exemplified by the ivory crepe dress paired with a jacket embellished with embroidered horses. Inspired by Dalí's vision, this ensemble embodies Schiaparelli's revolutionary approach to couture.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17028 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Evening ensemble

1937 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york

Discover Elsa Schiaparelli’s ‘Evening Ensemble’ (1937): A surreal velvet gown & oversized embroidered jacket – a masterpiece of bold color, luxurious texture, and iconic design.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Evening Cape

1938 · The Kyoto Costume Institute, Kyoto

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17028 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Evening Hat with Rhinestone Trim

Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin · original 18 x 18 cm

Admire Elsa Schiaparelli’s 'Evening Hat,' a dazzling 1940s couture piece featuring rhinestones & netting. Explore surreal fashion & the legacy of a design icon.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17029 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Gold Lamé Evening Gown

Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin

Discover Elsa Schiaparelli’s stunning ‘Gold Lamé Evening Gown’! A surrealist masterpiece of shimmering fabric & bold design – a timeless Art Deco treasure.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Dress

Röhsska Museum, Göteborg

Own a stunning reproduction of Elsa Schiaparelli’s iconic ‘Dress.’ A masterpiece of surrealist fashion, this black silk gown embodies 1930s elegance & artistic innovation.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17021 × 48 cm Commission this artwork

Dress

1940 · Röhsska Museum, Göteborg

Elsa Schiaparelli Dress Own a stunning reproduction of Elsa Schiaparelli’s iconic ‘Dress.’ A masterpiece of surrealist fashion, this black silk gown embodies 1930s elegance & artistic innovation. Designed for Schiaparelli's summer 1940 collection, this jacket was worn with a black mermaid dress and a jet beaded black tulle hat (see 2009.300.1164). In sophisticated pink twill trimmed with contras

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17022 × 46 cm Commission this artwork

Strapless Evening dress in white-on-white dotted organdy

1950 · Museum of the City of New York, New York City

Elegant 1950 Elsa Schiaparelli white organdy dress – a stunning mermaid design with delicate dotted embroidery & horsehair ruffles. A true couture masterpiece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17032 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Dress

Admire Elsa Schiaparelli’s iconic ‘Dress,’ a surrealist masterpiece of 1930s fashion. Explore intricate floral patterns & studio photography in this elegant design.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17024 × 42 cm Commission this artwork

Jacket

1900

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17026 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Evening Gown

1939 · the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel University, Philadelphia

Discover Elsa Schiaparelli’s ‘Evening Gown’ (1939): A stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece! Explore its gold detailing, surreal elegance & iconic design. #Schiaparelli #FashionHistory

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17026 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Dress with Jacket

1938

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17026 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Sketch

1939

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17039 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Evening Dress (Circus Collection)

Iwami Art Museum, Masuda

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17026 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Evening Coat

1936 · The Kyoto Costume Institute, Kyoto

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 18 artworks by Elsa Schiaparelli
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17028 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

1890 – 1973

Quick facts

Topics exploredsurrealism, fashion, elsa schiaparelli
Lifespan83 years
Movementssurrealism
Vibeelegant
Emotional toneromantic
Also known asSchiaparelli
Copyright statusUnder copyright
NationalityItaly

Biography

A Rebel Spirit in Haute Couture: The World of Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Luisa Maria Schiaparelli, a name synonymous with audacious style and surrealist innovation, irrevocably altered the landscape of 20th-century fashion. Born into an aristocratic Roman family in 1890, her life was anything but conventional. Unlike many of her contemporaries who embraced established societal norms, Schiaparelli possessed a fiercely independent spirit, fueled by intellectual curiosity and a penchant for challenging expectations. Her father, Celestino Schiaparelli, a renowned scholar of Islamic studies and Sanskrit, cultivated an environment rich in learning, while her uncle, the astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli – famed for his observations of Martian “canals” – sparked within her a lifelong fascination with the cosmos and the unconventional. This unique upbringing instilled a love for art, mythology, and esoteric thought that would profoundly shape her aesthetic vision. Early rebellious tendencies manifested not only in defying societal expectations but also in a tumultuous personal life, including a marriage to the enigmatic Wilhelm de Kerlor, a self-proclaimed psychic whose influence further propelled her into a world of spiritualism and occult practices – themes that subtly permeated her later designs.

From Knitwear to Surrealist Statements: The Rise of a Fashion House

Schiaparelli’s journey into the world of fashion was initially pragmatic, born from dissatisfaction with existing styles. She began by experimenting with knitwear in the late 1920s, recognizing a gap in the market for comfortable yet sophisticated clothing. In 1927, she established her own fashion house in Paris, quickly expanding beyond knitwear to encompass a full range of haute couture designs. However, it was during the 1930s that Schiaparelli truly came into her own, forging groundbreaking collaborations with leading artists of the Surrealist movement. This period marked a radical departure from the prevailing elegance of Parisian fashion, characterized by flowing silhouettes and understated glamour. Schiaparelli’s designs were deliberately provocative, playful, and often unsettling, embracing the absurd and challenging conventional notions of beauty. Her partnership with Salvador Dalí proved particularly fruitful, resulting in iconic creations like the Lobster Dress (1937), featuring a vibrant lobster painted onto silk, and the Shoe Hat (1938), a whimsical headpiece shaped like a high-heeled shoe. Jean Cocteau also contributed significantly to her work, designing striking embroidery and accessories that further enhanced the surrealist aesthetic.

Shocking Pink and Trompe-l'œil: Defining a Unique Aesthetic

Schiaparelli’s designs were instantly recognizable for their bold use of color, most notably her signature “shocking pink” – a vibrant, almost aggressive hue that defied the muted palettes favored by many of her contemporaries. This audacious choice became emblematic of her rebellious spirit and her determination to challenge established norms. Beyond color, Schiaparelli masterfully employed *trompe-l'œil* effects, creating illusions that blurred the boundaries between art and fashion. She incorporated unexpected materials into her designs – leather, metal, even newspaper print – pushing the limits of textile innovation. Her collections often drew inspiration from mythology, nature, and everyday objects, transforming them into wearable works of art. The Circus Collection of 1938 stands as a testament to this playful approach, featuring theatrical costumes adorned with whimsical motifs and exaggerated silhouettes. An Evening Coat from 1936 showcased her daring use of leather in high fashion, demonstrating her willingness to experiment with unconventional materials. Schiaparelli didn’t simply design clothes; she created immersive experiences that captivated the imagination and challenged perceptions.

Legacy and Revival: An Enduring Influence

Despite facing financial difficulties and a decline in popularity after World War II, Elsa Schiaparelli's influence on fashion remains undeniable. She paved the way for future designers to embrace artistic collaborations and push creative boundaries. Her innovative use of materials, her playful approach to design, and her fearless experimentation continue to inspire contemporary artists and fashion houses. Her work is featured in prominent museums worldwide, including the Kyoto Costume Institute and the Victoria and Albert Museum, solidifying her place in fashion history. The Maison Schiaparelli, after decades of dormancy, was re-established in 2014, demonstrating the enduring appeal of her visionary designs. This revival has brought her avant-garde spirit to a new generation, proving that her legacy extends far beyond the confines of the mid-20th century. Elsa Schiaparelli’s true innovation lay not just in creating beautiful clothes but in redefining fashion as an art form – a bold statement that continues to resonate today.

Key Works and Collections

Circus Collection (1938): A dazzling display of innovative design featuring theatrical costumes and whimsical motifs.
Evening Coat (1936): An example of her use of unconventional materials like leather in high fashion.
Lobster Dress (1937): A collaboration with Salvador Dalí, showcasing a lobster image printed on silk.
Shoe Hat (1938): Another iconic creation by Schiaparelli and Dalí, a hat shaped like a shoe.

Questions & Answers

In which historical period did Elsa Schiaparelli work?

Elsa Schiaparelli worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

How popular are Elsa Schiaparelli's artworks?

A Stats page exists for Elsa Schiaparelli, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

How do I find works by Elsa Schiaparelli in a specific palette?

To find works by Elsa Schiaparelli in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.

By the AllPaintingsStore.com Editorial Team Updated Oct. 11, 2026

Collector's quiz

Elsa Schiaparelli was born in which country?
Schiaparelli is renowned for a particular vibrant shade of pink. What is it known as?
With which Surrealist artist did Schiaparelli collaborate on the iconic Lobster Dress?
Before establishing her fashion house, what was one of Schiaparelli's early focuses in design?
What inspired many of Schiaparelli’s designs?

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