Nobilis Faemina Francica, Virgo Francica

Engraving, part of 'Habitus variarum orbis gentium' (Costumes of the various peoples of the world), representing the costumes of men and women from various parts of the world, engraved after designs by Boissard and published by Rutz in 1581.

This engraving represents a French noblewoman and two French girls. On the left, the noblewoman wears a dress with open ruff and long puff sleeves trimmed with two rows of bows . Her hair is tied up and covered with a headdress with horns on the sides and a strip of fabric hanging at the back of her head. She wears a necklace with hanging pearls.

On the center, the first French girl wears a dress with open ruff and short cap sleeves, possibly embroidered or brocaded, over long puff sleeves with a brocaded floral pattern, and a long skirt with train. The stomacher has a pattern of lozenges and pearls, likely brocaded and possibly also embellished. A necklace with roundels and hanging pearls is around her neck, and a longer necklace with two strands made up of similar motifs hangs on her chest. A tassel hangs from the tip of the bodice. Her hair is tied up and covered by a cap. She holds a pair of gloves on her left hand.

On the right, the second young woman wears a dress with long, pointed slit sleeves with stripes over long puff sleeves with a brocaded floral pattern, trimmed at the shoulders with two rows of bows. The bodice is made with a striped fabric, and has jeweled fastenings. A high ruff frames her face, and her hair is tied up and adorned with a small headdress at the back of her head.