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Spanish Woman from Madrid, Hand-Colored Engraving, Costume de divers Pays, 1820
€290
$325 · £245
Original print, not a reproduction.
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- Date
- 1820
- Sheet size
- 13.8 × 10.2 in (35 × 26 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Fine impression with rich, original coloring and excellent preservation of line and tone. Minor toning and a few faint spots in the margins, consistent with age. The image area remains bright and clean.
- Wardrobe
- Folk finery
- Era
- 1790 to 1840, Empire and Romantic
- Stock no.
- f_47328392
Spanish Woman from Madrid, Hand-Colored Engraving, Costume de divers Pays No.66, c.1820
This elegant hand-colored engraving, titled Costume de Madrid, is plate No. 66 from the series Costumes de divers Pays (Costumes of Various Countries), published in Paris around 1820. Drawn by Gaté and engraved by Gatine, it depicts a graceful woman from Madrid wearing the traditional black lace mantilla, one of the most iconic garments in Spanish fashion history.
The figure is shown from behind, turning slightly to the side to reveal her fine pink and gold-trimmed bodice, accentuating her poised stance. Over her shoulders and dress, a richly detailed black lace shawl cascades down in intricate patterns, finely rendered to convey the texture and delicacy of Spanish lacework. The mantilla, held in place by a large bow atop her head, frames her profile with an air of mystery and refinement. In her right hand, she holds a folded fan, a quintessential accessory of Spanish elegance and social ritual.
This print captures the fascination of early 19th-century Europe with national costume and the romantic allure of Spain. French engravers such as Gaté and Gatine excelled at combining ethnographic interest with artistic grace, resulting in prints that were both accurate and decorative. The *Costumes de divers Pays* series offered viewers across Europe a vivid glimpse into foreign fashions at a time when travel was limited to the elite.
Condition report:
Fine impression with rich, original coloring and excellent preservation of line and tone. Minor toning and a few faint spots in the margins, consistent with age. The image area remains bright and clean.
Framing tips:
A black or dark mahogany frame with a soft cream or gold-edged mat will accentuate the contrast between the lace mantilla and the soft tones of the garment. This piece displays beautifully alongside other European costume engravings from the same series.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Maker: Gaté del.; Gatine sc.; published in Paris, c.1820
