Habit of a Country Woman of Calabria in 1768

by Thomas Jefferys

The following 1768 engraving by Thomas Jefferys gives us some insight into the country identity of Southern Italy in the eighteenth century. This particular print comes from the artist's celebrated series entitled A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, and it is an illustration of the "Habit of a Country Woman of Calabria."

The garment style illustrated here is far from being fashion conscious and more closely resembles practical clothing worn by the country people. The dress usually consisted of layers of skirts, a tight bodice used for supporting the woman while working, and characteristic headgear, which signified the woman’s marital or social status.