About this sheet
This lithograph, part of the 1847 "Costume du Moyen Âge" series, depicts a young gentleman dressed in the fashion of the time. His attire is a blend of style and functionality suitable for a man of his age and social standing. The gentleman is portrayed wearing a short, dark cloak over a doublet with slashed sleeves, a popular style that allowed the rich fabric of the undergarment to show through.
His hose are a striking red, fitting tightly to display the shape of his legs, a fashion characteristic of the period. The ensemble is completed with black shoes, pointed at the toe, which was a mark of trendiness among the youth of the nobility. In one hand, he carries a walking stick, a fashionable accessory that could also be used for sport or defense.
The young man's hat is particularly notable—a wide-brimmed chapeau adorned with a flamboyant feather, suggesting a flair for the dramatic in his personal presentation. His hair is cut in a manner that frames his face, a style that was becoming increasingly popular during this era.
His posture is relaxed yet confident, with his gaze directed slightly upwards, possibly indicating his optimistic outlook and social aspirations. The background is left intentionally plain to ensure the viewer's focus remains on the intricate details of the young man's attire and his debonair demeanor.
This lithograph serves as a historical representation of the clothing and style of a young nobleman in the Middle Ages, reflecting the period's fashion sensibilities and the social importance of dress as a marker of identity and status. It captures the essence of youthfulness and the fashion-forward thinking that was prevalent among the aristocratic youth of the time.
The colors have a nice glow over them. Historically, egg whites, known as glair, and sometimes egg yolk were indeed used in illumination and painting, particularly in manuscripts, to give colors a brighter appearance and to add a sheen or gloss to the work. This technique was quite common during the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.
Egg whites can be applied as a varnish over pigments to enhance their brightness and to protect the colors. This application could make the colors appear more vivid and also add a slight glossy sheen to the surface of the image.
Egg yolk, on the other hand, was commonly used as a binding agent in paint. It forms the basis of tempera paint, a medium that was widely used before the advent of oil painting. Egg yolk helps to create a durable and long-lasting color that adheres well to various surfaces.
In the context of the print from 1847, it's less likely that egg whites or yolks were used directly on the print, as by that time, commercial printing processes would have been more advanced and less reliant on such manual methods. However, if this print is a representation of an earlier style or is meant to mimic the appearance of hand-painted manuscripts, the original artists might have employed techniques or materials that gave a similar effect to those achieved with egg-based binders and varnishes.
