French Man of Quality in 1700 in a Blue Coat, Jefferys Costume Plate, 1757

An original antique print, a copper engraving colored by hand, lettered "Habit of a French Man of Quality in 1700." A young man in a full curled wig stands facing the viewer, one hand tucked into the pocket of his breeches. He wears a long light blue coat with deep turned back cuffs edged in lace, a gold shoulder cord and a lace cravat. His long yellow waistcoat and matching breeches are closed with rows of red buttons. In his lowered hand at the viewer's right he holds a black hat trimmed with a pink plume, with a gold and red tassel hanging beside it. A sword blade angles back toward the viewer's left, and he wears white stockings and black buckled shoes with red heels.

The English title is engraved in script beneath the image: "Habit of a French Man of Quality in 1700." Below it is the French caption "Francois de Qualité." (in English, "Frenchman of Quality"), and the plate number 136 is engraved at lower right. No engraver or designer is named on the plate.

Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, published A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Antient and Modern from his premises in the Strand, London, and this plate is from the second volume, dated 1757 on its title page. The title page credits the designs to Holbein, Vandyke, Hollar and others, and a French title, Recueil des Habillements de Différentes Nations, accounts for the bilingual lettering. It falls among the French figures of the volume. The year in the English title is the date of the costume shown, not of the print, which was published in 1757.

Framed with a generous mat, it makes a crisp accent for a dressing room, a study or a hallway.

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