Two plates in one mount (see plate 2002.139/239); a figure of a woman, inscribed, French: Gentle-woman/Mulier [illegible; print cut] and W. Hollar fecit 1643, by W Hollar, Theatrum Mulierum,/ sive,/ Varietas etc, 1643. Theatrum Mulierum was a descriptive book of 36 etchings. The prints show different kinds of female fashion throughout Europe. < ...Read more
Two plates in one mount (see plate 2002.139/239); a figure of a woman, inscribed, French: Gentle-woman/Mulier [illegible; print cut] and W. Hollar fecit 1643, by W Hollar, Theatrum Mulierum,/ sive,/ Varietas etc, 1643. Theatrum Mulierum was a descriptive book of 36 etchings. The prints show different kinds of female fashion throughout Europe.
The woman is wearing a tight bodice and full skirt with a separate white apron. The bodice is decorated with tabs of what appears to be linen on her shoulders and cuffs. She has a pearl necklace and is holding a fan. Her hair is in the fashionable style of the period called ‘spaniels- ears’ with soft curls on the side of her head and a bun at the back.
The maker of this print is Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 – 1677), a draughtsman and etcher from Prague. Mainly active in Germany, he visited the Netherlands in 1634 and joined the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel in 1636. The earl brought the artist to London where he focused mainly on book-illustration and cartography. He joined Lord Henry Howard in his expedition to Tangiers, but afterwards continued his work as an illustrator. He died in London in reduced circumstances.
Other copies of this print are in British Museum Online Catalogue, reference number 1868,0612.260.
Further reading
Colas, R., Bibliographie Générale du Costume et de la Mode. Description des suites, recueils, séries, revues et livres Français et étrangers relatifs au costume civil, militaire et religieux, aux modes, aux coiffures et aux divers accessoires de l’habillement, avec une table méthodique et un index alphabétique, Paris 1933, entry 1465; 1466; 1467.
Reynolds, A., In fine Style. The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion, London 2013.
Ribeiro, A., Fashion and Fiction. Dress in Art and Literature in Stuart England, London 2005. < Hide