Habit of an Armenian Native of Persia in 1700

by Thomas Jefferys

This unique engraving from the mid-18th century created by Thomas Jefferys gives a rare ethnographic insight into the life of an Armenian native living in Persia at the transition between the Safavid and Afsharid eras.

The artwork differs from the typical European portraits of that period through its precise depiction of the hybrid style of fashion worn by New Julfa Armenians. The man is dressed in the typical Persian way, wearing a long tunic called caba and a tied sash called shash, while at the same time possessing distinctive Armenian touches, which may refer to ecclesiastical or commercial aspects.