Habit of a Spanish Lady with her Veil in her Hand

by Thomas Jefferys

Take a step back to the mid-1700s through this fantastic ethnographic illustration. While most works from this period featured broad landscapes, this piece highlights the finer aspects of Spanish femininity. The piece demonstrates the woman in her typical dress; more specifically, it appears to be a basquiña with mantilla modification. The print captures how fashion was practiced by the Spanish, mixing strict formality with the use of accessories. As part of Jefferys' famous "habits" book series, this piece represents an important historical document on fashion development during the 18th century.