Habit of Zara in the Tragedy of the Mourning Bride

by Thomas Jefferys

This magnificent engraving by Thomas Jefferys is a prime example of the visual documentation of theatrical "Exoticism" during the 18th century. In this engraving, the character of Zara, the captured queen of the Moors in The Mourning Bride, is shown wearing an ensemble that perfectly symbolizes the "Tragic Royalty."

In the illustration entitled the "Habit," there is a complex combination of a close-fitting bodice with a flowing fur-lined robe similar to a kaftan. This represents the European concept of Levantine dress styles in the 18th century. The detailed depiction of the draperies and the elegant crown clearly shows Jefferys' expertise in merging costume design with ethnography.