Habit of a Caledonian

by Thomas Jefferys

This remarkable copperplate engraving was made around 1757. Instead of concentrating on his usual cartography expertise, Thomas Jefferys depicts a "Habit of a Caledonian." In doing so, Jefferys manages to illustrate one of the last looks at the traditional outfit which would be abolished after Jacobite rebellions.

The engraving presents the image of a character representing the wilderness of the North, wearing a thick belted plaid and wielding such typical elements of Highland attire as a broadsword and a targe. The illustration is not only an accurate depiction of fabric but also a reflection of the culture which has been developed under such rough conditions as those of the Grampian Range.