Solemnis habitus optimatum in Germania inferiore; Primariae mulieris ornatus inter Belgas; Aulicus Belga; Sic nobilies faeminae vel equitant, vel obambulant
Abraham de Bruyn Flemish
Publisher Joos de Bosscher Netherlandish
Not on view
Engraving, part of 'Omnium pene Europae, Asiae, Aphricae atque Americae Gentium Habitus' (Costumes of the various nations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America), a series of prints representing figures from various parts of the world, engraved by Abraham de Bruyn and published by Joos de Bosscher in 1580.
This engraving represents an aristocrat of low Germany in 'solemn dress', a Belgian noblewoman in fine dress, a Belgian prince, and a noblewoman in riding attire or travelling dress. On the left, the aristocrat of lower Germany wears a fur-lined overcoat with long puff sleeves with diagonal stripes over a ruff, a doublet embellished with pearls, and paned hose, stockings and flat shoes. He wears a beret, long beard and mustache, and carries a sword on his left hip.
Next to him is a Belgian noblewoman wearing a long overcoat with train, short puff sleeves, and borders made up of patterns of lozenges framed by strips of pearls, over a long dress with brocaded patterns of scrolling leaves and braid trimmings, and a ruff, with long puff sleeves with braid trimming. Her hair is tied up and held by a braided rope.
On the center-right is a Belgian prince, wearing matching jerkin and wide, paned hose, trimmed with bows. The jerkin is over a doublet with plain, long puff sleeves, and he seems to be wearing longer, slimmer hose underneath the paned ones, made in a fabric that matches the sleeves. His ruff is short, and he wears a puffy hat with a bundle of feathers.
On the right, the noblewoman wears a riding or travel dress made up of a short overcoat with long puff sleeves, trimmed with ribbon stripes and bows, over a long dress with a pattern of lozenges on the border and a ruff. Her hair is held up by a hat with a pattern of lozenges that matches her dress on the band, and a bundle of feathers. Her face is hidden behind a mask. She holds a bundle of herbs on the right hand, and a handkerchief on the left.
