Dame de qualité á L'Eglise

A coloured print of a woman and her page, entitled, 'Dame de qualité à L'Eglise' and inscribed, 'Aparis chez Gerard Iollain rue S. Jacques a lEnfant Iesus avec privil. du Roy 1688'.

The lady is wearing a mantua with her skirt pinned back, revealing a large part of her underskirt. Over her dress she is wearing a coat/cloak trimmed with fur. On her head is a commode, a structure of wires and silk, which is covered by a veil. On her face are several patches, fake beauty marks made of fabric. Her page is wearing a justaucorps with breeches and a lace and silk cravat around his neck.

The maker of this print is unknown, but the plate does state that it was published by Gerard Jollain. This could either be G. Jollain I or his son, who were both publishers.

British Museum Website
<http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?searchText=jollain+1688&=&people=126853&=&place=&from=ad&fromDate=&to=ad&toDate=&=&object=&=&subject=&=&matcult=&=&technique=&=&school=&=&material=&=&ethname=&=&ware=&=&escape=&=&bibliography=&citation=&museumno=&catalogueOnly=&view=> (08-01-2014).

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

Ribeiro, A., Fashion and Fiction. Dress in Art and Literature in Stuart England, London 2005.