Print, coloured engraving

A coloured print of a man described as 'Marchand de Raguse', with the address 'chez N Bonnart, rue St Iacques, à l'aigle, Cris de Paris, c. 1700.

The man is likely to have been an inhabitant of the Republic of Ragusa, which existed from 1358 until 1807. This Republic was situated in Eastern Europe adjacent the Adriatic Sea. He is wearing a coat over his tunic and trousers.

It is uncertain who designed and made the print, but we do know it was published by Nicolas Bonnart. Nicolas Bonnart (1637-1718), designer, engraver and publisher of prints, was one of four brothers (Nicolas, Henry, Robert and Jean-Baptiste) who were all engravers. They were especially active in the last quarter of the seventeenth century and are mostly known for their production of fashion plates. Nicolas Bonnart was mainly active from 1675 until 1715.

Other copies of this print are held in British Museum, Online Collection Reference Number: 1871,0812.4691

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 2629.