Costume & Stuff from the English Civil War
Born into a royalist family, Christopher, who was to become the 1st Viscount Hatton was painted here aged nine in 1641 by Cornelius Janssens van Ceulen. He is every inch the young gentleman with his smart black suit of figured silk, short cloak, red silk hose, shoes with high red heels and rosettes and a laced falling band. He also has a tall crowned hat with a rather natty twisted hat band which he’s placed on the side table.
Small book from the part of 1653 that they called 1652, as the new year in this period came on Lady Day at the beginning of April. Not only lamenting the abolition of Christmas, but lampooning taxes and opressive government. Some nice details here. The soldier on the left is wearing a tied buff leather coat I think, though it could be a soldier’s wool coat. His breeches are unconfined and decorated with ribbons at the lower end. The guy on the right has a small brimmed cap with a band that just might be a knitted monmouth cap from the droopy brim. Note the belt around his waist too. Both have obvious hose details evident and the shoe detail is good too.
French book by the Lord of Praissac, “Englished” (traslated) by John Cruso in 1639 who had written a cavalry manual himself some years earlier. This is the only plate of actual figures in the book, it’s quite derivative of the Dutch engravings of Jacob de Gheyn from 1607, but perhaps Englished like the text and maybe updated, though the breeches in plates E and F certainly are very old fashioned for 1640!
“….vvho all the by-standers doth earnestly pray, to bestow a penny upon him to day : to the tune of Tom of Bedlam”. Broadside from 1646. A host of interesting detail here. The beggar’s hose and breeches are threadbare but he has startupp boots on his feet and two large bags hanging from his belt. Two “ladies” in the background with uncovered heads. Maybe the one on the right is wearing a gown? It looks like an all in one full length garment.
Holding Their Yovng Kinge’s Nose to Ye Grinstone (sic). Pamphlet/broadsheet from 1651. It’s a familiar image, but there are some interesting details if you zoom in.
Jockie’s hat and coat cuffs for instance. Bonnet or wide brim?
His shoes and hose. Looks like they are sewn rather than knitted from the back seam and side gussets. He has unconfined breeches too.
The buttons on the back of his coat. Round and shanked.
And last but not least, Charles’s soft boots, boothose and breeches. Spot the ribbon decoration on the lower edge.
Engraving by Hollar. Simple coat and doublet with hose and latchet shoes. Ribbon ties below his knees. Felt hat hanging on a peg in the background. Published 1650.
The 1640s Picturebook 