The garment is worn by the model in one of Newbery’s most striking full-length portraits, The Mirror. In the 1911 oil painting, a woman gazes appreciatively over her shoulder at the long gown as she stands in front of an oval mirror.

When the gown’s local owner, who is not being named, saw the painting in Bridport Arts Centre’s Allsop Gallery, they went back home to fetch it. The gown is now on show there in a glass cabinet and is being donated to Bridport Museum, along with a Dorset smock made and embroidered by Newbery’s wife, Jessie.

Newbery Trail project manager Crystal Johnson said she was thrilled with the discovery.

“The gown is a beautiful piece of clothing and it is great to have it in the exhibition,” she said.

“It has been worn recently by a member of the owner’s family, who had no idea of the link with Newbery. We are very pleased to have found it.”

Picture shows the kimono-style gown with, from left Bridport Museum curator Alice Martin, Newbery Trail project manager Crystal Johnson and arts centre director Lindsay Brooks.