Habit of a Noble Matron of England in 1577

by Thomas Jefferys

This remarkable engraving depicts the Habit of a Noble Matron of England, first recorded in 1577. Although the style is clearly at its peak in the Elizabethan period, this particular engraving was carefully selected and printed by the famous geographer Thomas Jefferys in his groundbreaking 1772 publication titled A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations.

The engraving displays the strict elegance and coded messages typical of English nobility in the 16th century. Here, the "Matron" appears dressed in an elaborate dress that includes the well-known cartwheel farthingale, an ornately decorated bodice, and the defining high-standing ruff collar. Through his interpretation, Jefferys' engraving provides insight into the strict linework that characterized the late Renaissance period.