Habit of a Spanish Gentleman of Quality

by Thomas Jefferys

Through this beautiful print, Thomas Jefferys has successfully depicted the "Habit of a Spanish Gentleman of Quality." During the middle of the eighteenth century, fashion among Spanish high society was a unique mixture of stubbornly adhering to tradition while slowly succumbing to the influence of the Bourbon French style.

As other nations in Europe were indulging in the ornate elegance of the Versailles style, Spanish aristocracy tended to prefer a simpler style with a leaner shape. In this print, the "Quality" (aristocratic title) is depicted using the neatness of the doublet, the structured nature of the cloak, and the Spanish rapier – an essential accessory for all Spanish gentlemen.