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Grand Tour Italian Costume Prints, Naples & Ischia Ladies, Set of 2, 1749
An elegant pair of hand-colored antique costume engravings depicting fashionable women from Naples and the nearby island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples. These refined prints belong to a celebrated mid-18th century European costume series published around 1749, documenting historical dress traditions and regional fashions of Italy. The pair combines aristocratic elegance with regional identity, offering a sophisticated glimpse into southern Italian culture and style during the Renaissance period.
The first engraving, titled “Habit of a Lady of Naples,” portrays a finely dressed Neapolitan woman holding a decorative folding fan, adorned in flowing robes accented with blue and gold tones. Naples, one of Europe’s great cultural capitals during both the Renaissance and the Grand Tour era, fascinated travelers with its aristocratic society, artistic splendor, and Mediterranean atmosphere. The elegant costume reflects the cosmopolitan refinement associated with the city’s noble classes.
The second engraving, titled “Habit of a Lady of Ischia, an Island in the Gulf of Naples,” depicts a woman from the famed volcanic island of Ischia, located off the coast of Naples. Her costume is rendered in soft green, gray, and red tones, with a graceful veil and flowing drapery that evoke the quieter elegance of island life in southern Italy. Ischia was historically admired for its natural beauty, thermal springs, and picturesque traditions, making it a romantic and highly collectible subject within costume-print series.
Together, these engravings form an exceptionally harmonious decorative set. The soft original hand coloring, delicate line engraving, and generous blank margins create a refined visual balance ideal for framing side by side. Costume prints such as these were especially prized during the 18th century by collectors and Grand Tour travelers seeking visual records of European customs and regional identities.
This set displays beautifully in matching dark walnut, black lacquer, or lightly gilt frames with wide ivory or cream mats. The elegant palette and Italian subject matter make the pair particularly suitable for neoclassical, Mediterranean, or fashion-inspired interiors.
This is an original antique document, not a reproduction. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The pieces are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.
Condition: Good antique condition overall, with age-related toning, occasional foxing, and minor edge wear consistent with age. Attractive original hand coloring and strong impressions throughout. Please study the images carefully.
