Habit of a Neapolitan Country Woman in 1768

by Thomas Jefferys

This beautiful copperplate engraving by Thomas Jefferys gives us a unique view of the rustic refinement of the Kingdom of Naples in the middle of the 18th century. In contrast to the standardized fashion in the French court, the plate showcases the specific regional characteristic of the costume worn by a peasant woman from the Kingdom of Naples.

One can notice the intricacies of the construction of the costume: the rigid bodice, the heavy drapery of the apron, and the typical headwear called a fazzoletto that looks like an intricate geometric figure on the illustration. Jefferys' engravings are highly regarded for their linear style and the way they bring "common" costumes to a museum-level depiction, making them an invaluable source for costume history studies.