Traditional Headwear from Italy: Turin, Rome, Subiaco and More – 1823 Print

Traditional Headdresses from Italy and France: Florence, Ostia, Castà – 1823 This hand-colored lithograph, marked “No. 5,” is the fifth plate in a captivating 1823 series published in London by Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, illustrating traditional headdresses from across Europe. With a focus on Italian regional fashion, but also including a figure from Languedoc (France), the print showcases the diversity and creativity of 19th-century women's headwear in both ceremonial and everyday contexts. At upper left, a woman from Montefiascone wears a simple yet elegant white veil draped loosely over her hair and shoulders. Her scarlet sleeve ribbons and golden earring add a dash of vibrancy to an otherwise modest ensemble. In contrast, the central figure from Lariana dons one of the most dramatic headpieces on the sheet: a large, bright yellow hat embellished with blue ribbon and multiple ornamental loops. Her necklace with a red cross pendant suggests a religious or festival connection. To the upper right, the figure from Languedoc is rendered in profile wearing a striking purple bonnet with vertical ridges, trimmed with white lace, and set against a yellow collar. This French addition provides an interesting cross-cultural comparison within a primarily Italian series. The bottom row continues with a woman from Florence, shown from behind with her dark hair intricately braided and adorned with a long pink and white ribbon that drapes down her back—an emblem of grace and femininity. The central bottom figure from Ostia wears a wide-brimmed felt hat...

Traditional Head Dresses of Dieppe, France – Costume Study, 1823 This hand-colored lithograph titled “Head Dresses at Dieppe” offers a refined visual study of traditional French female headdresses from the coastal town of Dieppe in Normandy. Published in London on December 1, 1823, by the well-known firm of Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, the print forms part of a broader early 19th-century fascination with regional European costume, particularly among British collectors and travel enthusiasts. The composition is striking in its simplicity and elegance. Three distinct women’s headpieces are displayed against a clean, uncluttered background, allowing their design and symbolism to speak clearly to the viewer. The headdresses are meticulously detailed and richly hand-colored, suggesting both ceremonial and regional variation. On the left, a profile view reveals a tall, conical headdress in lavender with a long, flowing veil pinned at the top. This type is reminiscent of medieval hennins and suggests local continuity in ceremonial dress. The woman wears a gold hoop earring and a striped shawl, emphasizing her social and regional identity. At center, a woman in three-quarter profile wears a fan-shaped, white headpiece with radiating pleats, secured by a decorative blue band across the crown. Her deep red shawl and golden earring contribute to a look of formal dignity, suggestive of local festivals or important social occasions. On the right, a frontal view shows a woman wearing a purple cap over a white veil that falls along the sides of her face, topped with a large gold cross...

Italian Popular Costumes is a lithograph on paper realized in 1862. The artwork belongs to the Suite Uses and customs of all the peoples of the universe: " History of the government...

Italiann Popular Costumes is a lithograph on paper realized in 1862. The artwork belongs to the Suite Uses and customs of all the peoples of the universe: " History of the governmen...