Habit of a Country Woman of Pavia in 1581

by Thomas Jefferys

Although produced by Thomas Jefferys in the 18th century, around 1757-1772, this particular print depicts the elegance and gracefulness of Italian regional fashion as it was in the late Renaissance period, namely 1581.

This striking illustration shows the "Habit of a Country Woman of Pavia" and is a valuable piece of work illustrating the stratification among society members of the Lombardy region at the end of the 16th century. The image does not represent the strict and Spanish-inspired style of Milanese court fashion, but instead depicts a more practical look of the countrywoman.

The picture shows an attractive woman wearing a large skirt with pleats and a bodice showing the development from the soft clothes characteristic of the Renaissance period to more structured clothing. The woman's attire probably includes woollen clothes and linen combined with a headwear representing the status of a good citizeness of the rural middle class.