An Undress of the Dutchess of Portsmouth in 1666

by Thomas Jefferys

In this fantastic example of an eighteenth-century print, Thomas Jefferys has brilliantly illustrated the elegance and intrigue of Louise de Kérouaille, better known as the Duchess of Portsmouth as she was depicted in the year 1666. The Duchess is famous for her “baby face” as well as her cunning political abilities and was a key member of King Charles II’s court.

The title of this piece, An Undress of the Dutchess of Portsmouth, uses fine-line etching to capture the undress fashion. This fashion style of the seventeenth century was considered both a sign of high social standing and a calculated act of vulnerability.