Habit of the Marchioness of Belfont, Daughter of the Duke of Mazarine in 1700

The engraving by Thomas Jefferys from 1700 provides an exciting insight into the fashion styles of the French aristocracy around the turn of the 18th century. It portrays the Marchioness of Belfont, the daughter of the Duke of Mazarine, highlighting the shift from the rigid style of the 1690s to the ornate style characteristic of the Georgian and Regency periods.

The "Habit," or fashion style, portrayed here exemplifies the classic Baroque style. The Marchioness, being the daughter of a Duke, wears luxurious fabrics, which would be silks, lace, and most probably gold-embroidered.