German xylography of the the sixteenth century. 16th century German anonymous. Lady with damask dress.
Germany, half of the XVIth century.German woodcut; mm. 329 x 298, small margins; image within linear frame.

Splendid German woodcut of the sixteenth century. Of great interest for costume history, it depicts a high-ranking lady, as can be seen from the necklaces with strings of pearls; portrayed standing, under a decorated marble archway, she is wearing a magnificent Spanish-style dress. The damask dress with floral motifs consists of a large gorget, the stiff and elongated bodice on the wide skirt, enriched with pleats. During the '500 the European lady begins to elaborate her linear and soft dress: the skirt is supported by a light armor, which in Spanish fashion will be defined verdugade, or guardian of virtue. It is to this bell shape of the skirt that the first example of those bodily constrictions that will inhibit the naturalness of the female body must be ascribed, accentuating in the '600 to persist, with different shapes and modes, until the beginning of the' 900. Excellent complete impression of the framing line plus a few millimeters of margin, in excellent condition. Skilful restoration on the lower right corner visible mainly on the versoBruna Condoleo, L' "Umanesimo" nella moda, in Il costume nei secoli, dissertazioni sulla moda, Rivista bimestrale-Anno III-Gen./feb. 2007, n. 7.