About this sheet
Venetian Noblewoman and Nun in Gondola, Medieval Costume Plate, 1845
This original hand-colored costume plate depicts a noble Venetian lady traveling in a traditional gondola accompanied by a nun and gondolier. Published in Paris in 1845 as part of P. Mercuri's celebrated Costumes Historiques des XIIIe, XIVe et XVe Siècles, the image forms part of one of the nineteenth century's most ambitious studies of medieval and Renaissance costume.
The composition captures a uniquely Venetian scene. A richly dressed lady in a pink gown is seated within the protective cabin of a gondola, while a religious attendant stands nearby. At the stern, a gondolier propels the vessel across the water with a single oar. The distinctive high-prowed boat and covered passenger compartment evoke the elegance and social customs of historic Venice during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Mercuri based his illustrations on authentic monuments, paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, and historical sources. Rather than being imaginative recreations, these plates were intended as scholarly visual reconstructions of historical dress and daily life. Their publication coincided with the growing nineteenth-century fascination with medieval culture and the Gothic Revival movement, making them highly influential among artists, architects, costume designers, and historians.
The delicate hand coloring brings the scene to life, with soft pinks, blues, blacks, and subtle water reflections contrasting beautifully against the generous margins. The image is both decorative and historically informative, appealing equally to collectors of costume history, Venetian subjects, maritime imagery, and nineteenth-century book illustration.
An attractive and uncommon original print that combines the romance of Venice with the elegance of historical costume study.
Good antique condition with light age toning, scattered foxing, and minor handling marks consistent with age. Colors remain fresh and attractive. Wide margins. Please study the images carefully.
Framing tips:
Particularly effective in a dark walnut, black, or gilt frame with an ivory museum mat. The horizontal composition lends itself well to display above a desk, console table, or within a collection of travel and costume prints.
