Nobilis Belga recens nunc recepto ornato; Principessae vel comitissae adolescentoris ornatus Belgicus; Nobilis faemina ad templum abiens cum palla Belgica; Nobilis Belga patrio ornatu

Abraham de Bruyn Flemish
Publisher Joos de Bosscher Netherlandish

Not on view

Engraving, part of 'Omnium pene Europae, Asiae, Aphricae atque Americae Gentium Habitus' (Costumes of the various nations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America), a series of prints representing figures from various parts of the world, engraved by Abraham de Bruyn and published by Joos de Bosscher in 1580.

This engraving represents a young Belgian man in fine dress, a princess, or wife of the Belgian adolescent Count (before metioned), a noblewoman wearing a Belgian overcoat at the temple, and a Belgian nobleman in national dress. On the left, the young man wears a striped jerkin with ribbon trimmings, long puff sleeves with polka dots and ruffled cuffs, and matching striped wide hose, stockings, and flat shoes. The ruff is a short 'cartwheel' ruff, round and tight, and under it hangs a three-stranded chain necklace with a small pendant on the longest strand. His hat is rounded and with short brim, and has a ribbon tied to form a bow in place of the band. From his right hip hangs a long sword.

On the center-left is the princess or countess, wearing a dress with a striped doublet trimmed with ribbons, short cartwheel ruff, and long puff sleeves with ruffled cuffs, somewhat matching the young man's doublet, and long, full skirt with striped borders. She holds a long feather fan on one hand and gloves on the other. Her hair is tied up and adorned with a headdress with a bundle of feathers.

On the center-right, a noblewoman wears a dress with ruff, striped bodice, and long puff sleeves, almost entirely hidden beneath a large 'palla' or overcoat with wide hood, lined in a brocaded fabric with a pattern of scrolling motifs. According to the inscription, this kind of overcoat would have been worn in Belgium to attend religious ceremonies at church.

On the right, the Belgian nobleman wears an overcoat with long puff sleeves with stripes, open over his shoulders, over a jerkin made of panes, possibly of gold braid, and matching wide hose. Under the jerkin is a doublet with long puff sleeves with ruffled cuffs. He wears a cartwheel ruff and a large, puffy hat with a bundle of feathers. The shoes are flat, and he carries a sword on his right hip.

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