Ghost
Henriette de Balzac d’Entragues by unknown, ca 1600 France

Henriette de Balzac d’Entragues by unknown, ca 1600 France

Portrait of a Young Lady by Federico Barocci, ca 1600, Statens Museum for Kunst Larger image

Portrait of a Young Lady by Federico Barocci, ca 1600, Statens Museum for Kunst

Larger image

Chopines, 1590-1610 Italy, the Met Museum The chopine was a tall clog worn in primarily in Venice from the 15th to the early 17th centuries. While most examples are between three and five inches tall, some specimens of over a foot tall survive. Historical accounts testify to the necessity of the assistance of a pair of ladies maids to walk in the more extreme examples. As can be appreciated from the elaborate and fragile materials, the purpose of the chopine was as much to elevate the lady’s sartorial reputation as to elevate her skirt from the dirt of the streets and to increase her physical prominence. While this single chopine is very typical of the form in design and decoration, the blue color is less commonly seen than red or green. An additional feature of note also found on many other surviving examples is the leather sock lining with incised pattern of concentric squares.

Chopines, 1590-1610 Italy, the Met Museum

The chopine was a tall clog worn in primarily in Venice from the 15th to the early 17th centuries. While most examples are between three and five inches tall, some specimens of over a foot tall survive. Historical accounts testify to the necessity of the assistance of a pair of ladies maids to walk in the more extreme examples. As can be appreciated from the elaborate and fragile materials, the purpose of the chopine was as much to elevate the lady’s sartorial reputation as to elevate her skirt from the dirt of the streets and to increase her physical prominence. While this single chopine is very typical of the form in design and decoration, the blue color is less commonly seen than red or green. An additional feature of note also found on many other surviving examples is the leather sock lining with incised pattern of concentric squares.

Unknown Lady by William Segar (attributed), ca 1595

Unknown Lady by William Segar (attributed), ca 1595

Portrait of an Unknown Lady by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, ca 1595 England, Tate Gallery Interesting.  I’ve never seen Elizabethan maternity clothing before.

Portrait of an Unknown Lady by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, ca 1595 England, Tate Gallery

Interesting.  I’ve never seen Elizabethan maternity clothing before.

Childrens dress, ca 1600 Germany, Lippisches Landesmuseum Just when I think I’ve seen everything the distant past has left to offer, I get proven completely wrong.

Childrens dress, ca 1600 Germany, Lippisches Landesmuseum

Just when I think I’ve seen everything the distant past has left to offer, I get proven completely wrong.

Portrait of Gabrielle d’Estrées by Lavinia Fontana, ca 1593-99 France, Wakefield Art Gallery

Portrait of Gabrielle d’Estrées by Lavinia Fontana, ca 1593-99 France, Wakefield Art Gallery

Vizard, late 16th century (?) England, Portable Antiquities Scheme Elizabethan women sometimes wore silk or velvet masks when outside to keep their skin that pink and white. Oh, and just in case the first shot wasn’t already giving you nightmares:

Vizard, late 16th century (?) England, Portable Antiquities Scheme

Elizabethan women sometimes wore silk or velvet masks when outside to keep their skin that pink and white.

Oh, and just in case the first shot wasn’t already giving you nightmares:

Costume bodice worn by Marie de Medici, 1575-1600 Spain (worn in Paris), MFA Boston I’m not really sure what they mean by “costume” since Marie de Medici lived in this era.  Maybe it’s a fancy dress piece?

Costume bodice worn by Marie de Medici, 1575-1600 Spain (worn in Paris), MFA Boston

I’m not really sure what they mean by “costume” since Marie de Medici lived in this era.  Maybe it’s a fancy dress piece?

Queen Elizabeth I, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, ca 1585-90

Queen Elizabeth I, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, ca 1585-90

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