Morning Habit of a Lady of Venice in 1750

by Thomas Jefferys

This beautiful copperplate engraving illustrates the “Morning Habit” of a Venetian woman in the period when the Enlightenment reached its peak. In contrast to the formal atmosphere at the French court, the clothing presented on the picture dates back to 1750, reflecting the distinct style and elegance of Venice. This engraving shows the subject in a deshabille, which is a term used for clothes that denote the transition from privacy to public life, in this case, the famous Venice square, Piazza San Marco.

The elegant lines depict the fine laces on the woman’s mantelet and the volumes of her petticoat skirts, thus providing an interesting insight into the lives of noble people in Italy in the 18th century. This beautiful image is one of the many engravings collected by Thomas Jefferys in his atlas on global costumes.