Habit of a Gentleman of Burgundy in 1581

by Thomas Jefferys

This illustration from the important collection by Thomas Jefferys represents the "Habit of a Gentleman of Burgundy," a clear example of the exact period when the silhouette of chivalry gave way to the refined style of the later Renaissance period.

As the French court in Paris embraced extravagance and embellishment, the Burgundian gentleman retained his aura of stateliness and nobility. The gentleman wears the usual slashed doublet, ruffed collar, and baggy paned trunk hose that were a hallmark of status at the time. His elaborate costume made of velvets and adorned with embroidered motifs indicates the area's continuing prosperity and advantageous position within Europe.