The Dutch painter Jan Vermeer (1632-1675), about whom I have spoken extensively in my book Walking in the history from 1200 to 1800, devoted himself to portraying everyday life, usually representing the middle class society that flourished in that period.
Obtaining independence from Spain in 1648, Holland rose to economic power in Europe, until 1672 when Louis XIV sent an army to invade Holland.
This is Vermeer, who distinguished himself by a vibrant luminosity and a strong sense of composition and color combinations, representing house interiors, family scenes, men and women as well, with may details, from which we can deduce the fashion of the 17th century in Holland, either.
The following selection of paintings, I wanted to highlight some peculiarities of women clothing, for instance the colors, from red to yellow, from creamy white to blue, also the shape and patterns. The middle class elegance Netherlands was well-known: it was the wealth of Holland, which made the textiles trade possible. Apart from the vivid colors, we highlight the embroidery, the tinsels, the ornaments, the preciousness of women clothing. All decorated, often with bonnets, pearls, jewelry.
Around the same period in France – it was the center of European fashion from the beginning of the 17th century – women jacket so called brassière and men tie so called Steinkerque will have great success. Paris became the capital of style, it was an example that will influence trends until the present day. In those years, under Louis XIII and then Louis XIV, the Sun King, France had the desire to conquer.
Each one of us could better specified pictures or looking for some others, getting so details that often we just doesn’t notice, but they are necessary for an exhaustive historical research.
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Italian version here.
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