Habit of a Lady of Quality in Burgundy in 1577

by Thomas Jefferys

This highly significant engraving from the mid-eighteenth century reveals the complex Habits of a Lady of Quality from Burgundy in 1577, printed as part of Thomas Jefferys' renowned ethnographic collection. It shows how Renaissance fashion changed with the emphasis on structure and detail typical to the French regional aristocracy.

It features a lady in a gown with a high collar and puffed sleeves wearing the distinctive farthingale-type skirt, offering collectors insight into the clothing of Burgundy in the sixteenth century. This plate, produced with Jefferys’ characteristic line work, is both a beautiful example of fine art and a crucial source in studying the history of costume and European class society.