Ein Vornehme Bur/gers oder Kauffmas fraw zu Prag. 1636 Mercatoris Pragensis Uxor

Two plates in one mount; a figure of a woman, inscribed, Ein Vornehme Bur/gers oder Kauffmas/fraw zu Prag. 1636/ Mercatoris Pragensis Uxor/ W Hollar fec 1642, by W Hollar, Aula Veneris, 1642. From Prague?

The woman, a distinguished burgess’ or merchant’s wife, is wearing a fur cap, a ruff, a fur trimmed coat and a fur muff (a garment to keep the hands warm). Inside the muff there could be small pockets for keeping necessities or scent.

The maker of this print is Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 – 1677), a draughtsman and etcher from Prague. Mainly active in Germany, he visited the Netherlands in 1634 and joined the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel in 1636. The earl brought the artist to London where he focused mainly on book-illustration and cartography. He joined Lord Henry Howard in his expedition to Tangiers, but afterwards continued his work as an illustrator. He died in London in reduced circumstances.

Other copies of this print are held in British Museum Online Catalogue, Wenceslaus Hollar . Print Museum Number : Mm,1.153.

Further reading
Colas, R., Bibliographie Générale du Costume et de la Mode. Description des suites, recueils, séries, revues et livres Français et étrangers relatifs au costume civil, militaire et religieux, aux modes, aux coiffures et aux divers accessoires de l’habillement, avec une table méthodique et un index alphabétique, Paris 1933, entry 1465; 1466; 1467.

Reynolds, A., In fine Style. The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion, London 2013.