Throughout the book, the illustrations are given by means of facsimiles of drawings by artists of the various centuries, so that a historic survey of the History of Figure Drawing will be included. Where the drawings of primitive artists do not clearly express the ideas intended to be conveyed, a modern drawing of the garment on a dress-stand will be used for explanation of the measured drawings of the cut-out garments. The growing appreciation of the beauty and value of the earlier and more primitive systems of cutting shown in modern dress designing for the last decade, when the so-called Magyar blouse (really the simple tunic common to all primitive folk) began to be popular, will make the present volume a convenient form of inspiration for designers; also, where more exact reproduction is needed, as in theatrical work, pageantry, and so forth, the careful working out of the details of cut and decoration will expedite production and save hours of fruitless searching in reference libraries. To the Art Student, in addition to the always interesting history of costume, the development of the Art of Representation, as shown in the illustrations of these volumes, which is so strangely repeated in the personal history of every young person learning to draw, will be attractive and instructive. Finally, in connection with the history lesson in the ordinary school, teachers will find the illustrations clear and helpful, especially if dramatic representations are attempted. MARY G. HOUSTON. CONTENTS PAGE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN COSTUME 1 ANCIENT ASSYRIAN COSTUME 43 ANCIENT PERSIAN COSTUME 75 LIST OF PLATES IN COLOUR PLATE PAGE I. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GODDESS 7 II. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN QUEEN 9 III. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DECORATION 13 IV. THE GOD OSIRIS 15 V. ANI, A SCRIBE 17 VI. THUTHU, WIFE OF ANI 21 VII. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DECORATION 23 VIII. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN QUEEN 25 IX. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DECORATION 29 X. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PRIESTESS 33 XI. ANCIENT ASSYRIAN PERSONAGE 51 XII. ANCIENT ASSYRIAN DECORATION 61 XIII. KING ASSUR-NASIR-PAL 63 XIV. QUEEN OF ASSUR-BANI-PAL 71