Habit of an English Lady of Quality in 1577, Jefferys Costume Plate, 1757

This is an original antique copper engraving with hand coloring, lettered in script "Habit of an English Lady of Quality, in 1577." A young lady stands in three quarter view holding a spray of red flowers in both hands, with another flower pinned at her breast. She wears a small black hat trimmed in gold, a white ruff and several gold chains, and a violet gown with a black collar and short puffed oversleeves over yellow sleeves. The skirt opens over an olive underskirt, and a yellow ribbon hangs from the waist.

The French caption beneath reads "Dame Anglois de Qualite.", meaning English lady of quality; the French is engraved as printed, without an accent. The plate number 210 is engraved at lower right; no artist or engraver is named.

This is a plate from Volume II of A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Antient and Modern, issued in London in 1757 by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, from his premises in the Strand. Its title page credits the designs to Holbein, Vandyke, Hollar and others, and a French title page, Recueil des Habillements de Différentes Nations, accompanies the English one, so each figure is captioned in both languages. Lady of quality was the usual phrase for a woman of rank.

The figure stands alone on the sheet with ample margins, so it frames easily and sits comfortably beside other costume plates.

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