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The Ball (c. 1635)

By the time of this ball, the austere Spanish attire that had once been de rigueur for the European nobility had given way to colorful and highly ornamental garments. As this image shows, the starched ruff collars of earlier days had been replaced by wide, soft collars made of lace or linen. For both men and women, silhouettes had become looser and sleeves fuller. The painting below is by Abraham Bosse (1602-1676), a printmaker and engraver known for his detailed depictions of clothing. Gouache on parchment on oak wood, c. 1635.

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The Ball (c. 1635)

© Bildarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz / Gemäldegalerie, SMB / Jörg P. Anders
Original: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin