Habit of a Nobleman of Rome

by Thomas Jefferys

Step back in time into the realm of elegance created by Thomas Jefferys, the Geographer to King George III. We will pay attention to one of Jefferys' best engravings and examine his "Habit" of a Roman Nobleman from the copperplate engraving "A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations". By studying the work, we get closer to understanding how Italian aristocracy changed in the late 18th century.

Unlike ordinary fashion illustrations, this work can be considered proto-ethnographic, reflecting the intricate ties between status, material, and traditional clothing. The "habitus" portrayed by Thomas Jefferys is a traditional piece of clothing for aristocrats in Rome. The clothes that belonged to the Roman nobility were elegant and featured a rigid cut.