Femina Neapolitana

Engraving, part of 'Habitus variarum orbis gentium' (Costumes of the various peoples of the world), representing the costumes of men and women from various parts of the world, engraved after designs by Boissard and published by Rutz in 1581.

This engraving represents three Neapolitan women. On the left, the first woman wears a closed mantle with bow fastenings and wide sleeves, trimmed with bows on the shoulders, over a long dress made in brocaded fabric with a foliage pattern, with train and high ruff collar, and with long puff sleeves with stripes. She wears a chain necklace and a ribbon band with a pendant. Her face and head are completely wrapped on a headscarf. She wears a fringed handkerchief on her right hand and a feather fan on her left hand.

The second woman, on the center, wears a dress with train and long, slit, pointed sleeves with stripes over long puff sleeves, trimmed with two rows of bows on the shoulders. The dress has a high ruff and the bustline is covered with a draped piece of fabric, under which hangs a double chain necklace. The same kind of chain is used as trimming for the lower border of the bodice. Her hair is tied up and covered partially by a cap.

On the right, the third woman wears a full dress with buttons on the bodice and long puff sleeves trimmed with two rows of bows on the shoulders, with an open ruff collar and a scarf around the neck. A long ribbon with a jeweled tassel pendant hangs around her neck. She wears a hat, from which hangs a long veil that covers her shoulders and backs, and is tied at the front of her dress.