Seems Henry Duke of Gloucester hadn’t been breeched when this picture was made. Engraving published by Peter Stent in 1641. You don’t often see the King in shoes!
February 6, 2012
Crispin and Crispianus
By hollar. A shoe shop in the 1640s. A very oily salesman tries to sell some shoes to a female customer whilst a pair of supporting artists in the background do some stuff with what looks like a shoe tree.
Here’s a close up of the lady. Is she impressed with his sales technique, or his splendid falling band?
The salesman. He’s being quite free with M’Lady’s bare foot I feel.
And the background action. What exactly is he holding? Answers on a postcard please.
The 1640s Picturebook 