Dress of the Commonalty c1630 (Charles 1st)

DESCRIPTION: This historical illustration is titled "Dress of the Commonalty, Time of Charles I. A.D. 1630." It is a chromolithograph print originally published in the 19th-century volume The National and Domestic History of England by William Hickman Smith Aubrey. The image depicts a cross-section of ordinary English citizens ("the commonalty") of the early Stuart era emerging from an arched stone doorway, likely a church. Key Fashion Details Featured (1630s English Style) - The Transition from the Ruff: Around 1630, the stiff Elizabethan ruffs completely fell out of style. Instead, both men and women adopted wide, flat falling linen collars—often trimmed with lace, as seen on the main figures. Male Attire: The central gentleman wears a buttoned waistcoat/doublet with slashed sleeves, blue breeches (pantaloons) tied just below the knee, white stockings, a vibrant red cloak, and shoes adorned with decorative buckles. He holds a wide-brimmed hat featuring a large plume feather. Female Attire: The women showcase a rising waistline trend typical of the Baroque transition. The figure on the left wears a wide-brimmed black hat, a wide lace shoulder cape (falling collar), a purple bodice, and a patterned gold underskirt. The central woman features ringlet curls, a green skirt, and decorative fabric accents on her sleeves. Social Context: A seated beggar holds out a hat for alms near the doorway, underscoring the socio-economic divisions among the common classes of the period. STYLE: Chromolithograph COLOUR: Colour SIZE (cm; mount board typically a few mm larger): 21.5 x 17 CREATORS: PUBLICATION: William Hickman Smith Aubrey's The National and Domestic History of England PUBLISHER: London: J Hagger DATE: C19 COMMENTS: Excellent condition with some patina from its antiquity SUBJECT: Fashion PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.