Austrian Peasants, Vienna Burgher and Bridal Couples of Austria and Styria, 1842

This original antique lithograph, colored by hand, is a plate from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). In the upper image three country people stand at left: a woman in a broad black hat lined in red, a yellow kerchief and a blue apron over a dark dress; a woman in a white cap, striped sleeves, green bodice and white apron holding a bird by its feet; and a young man in a hat with green trim, a red waistcoat with green braces and dark breeches. At right a townswoman wears a large blue frilled bonnet, a wide blue collar and a long dark dress. The lower image shows two bridal couples decked with flowers: at left a man in a long dark coat with silver buttons and a blue waistcoat hand in hand with a woman in a blue bonnet and dark dress carrying a wreath; at right a man in a green coat and flowered hat with a garlanded staff beside a woman in a gold crown and veil, a green fur trimmed jacket and a pink skirt.

The top margin is lettered "Tom IV" at left, "IMP. AUSTRIACO" in the center and "Tav 98" at right. The upper captions read "Contadini Austriaci" (Austrian peasants) and "Borghese di Vienna" (Burgher woman of Vienna), and the lower ones "Sposi dell'alta Austria" (Bride and groom of Upper Austria) and "Sposi Stiriani" (Styrian bride and groom).

Upper Austria and Styria are Austrian provinces, with Linz and Graz as their chief towns. Bridal crowns, flowered hats and garlanded staffs were common features of wedding dress in the Alpine regions.

The two flower decked couples make this an attractive plate for a wedding or anniversary gift.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.