Spanish Woman from Madrid – Hand-Colored Engraving, Costume de divers Pays, 1820
€ 290
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1820
Mapmaker / artist
Gaté del.; Gatine sc.; published in Paris, c.1820
Technique
Hand-colored engraving
Sheet size
35 × 26 cm (13.8 × 10.2 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14149-17
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Fine impression with rich, original coloring and excellent preservation of line and tone. Minor toning and a few faint spots in the margins, consistent with age. The image area remains bright and clean.
About this sheet
Spanish Woman from Madrid – Hand-Colored Engraving, Costume de divers Pays No.66, c.1820
This elegant hand-colored engraving, titled Costume de Madrid, is plate No. 66 from the series Costumes de divers Pays (Costumes of Various Countries), published in Paris around 1820. Drawn by Gaté and engraved by Gatine, it depicts a graceful woman from Madrid wearing the traditional black lace mantilla, one of the most iconic garments in Spanish fashion history.
The figure is shown from behind, turning slightly to the side to reveal her fine pink and gold-trimmed bodice, accentuating her poised stance. Over her shoulders and dress, a richly detailed black lace shawl cascades down in intricate patterns, finely rendered to convey the texture and delicacy of Spanish lacework. The mantilla, held in place by a large bow atop her head, frames her profile with an air of mystery and refinement. In her right hand, she holds a folded fan — a quintessential accessory of Spanish elegance and social ritual.
This print captures the fascination of early 19th-century Europe with national costume and the romantic allure of Spain. French engravers such as Gaté and Gatine excelled at combining ethnographic interest with artistic grace, resulting in prints that were both accurate and decorative. The Costumes de divers Pays series offered viewers across Europe a vivid glimpse into foreign fashions at a time when travel was limited to the elite.
Condition report: Fine impression with rich, original coloring and excellent preservation of line and tone. Minor toning and a few faint spots in the margins, consistent with age. The image area remains bright and clean.
Framing tips: A black or dark mahogany frame with a soft cream or gold-edged mat will accentuate the contrast between the lace mantilla and the soft tones of the garment. This piece displays beautifully alongside other European costume engravings from the same series.
