A Spanish Lady in 1626

by Thomas Jefferys

The exquisite print by Thomas Jefferys provides an elegant view of the elegance of the Golden Age of Spain. The subject of this print is portrayed at a time when she was captured in 1626 and represented the somber yet rich fashion set by the Spanish royal court.

In this print, there is a transition from the Elizabethan fashion to the more structured Baroque fashion that the subject was dressed in. She is shown wearing the guardainfante or hoop skirt along with the high neckline. The body may have been covered in blackwork or lace. It can be seen that the use of fine lines by Jefferys has captured the rich textures of the material she wears.