The Dress of the Venetians, 1495-1525

"This is a stylish well-written book and anyone who can be so witty about the Tempesta gets my vote."  Burlington Magazine

"Newton has made a bold start on a period of immense complexity, and important questions arise from her research." Book Reviews

Tracing the development of Venetian fashion and their appearance in contemporary works of art, this book discusses the unique attitude of the Venetian Republic to the dress of its patricians, its citizens and its women, as well as to the dress of foreigners. It relies extensively on the views of the Senate on dress, and considers Venice's contempt for the current fashions in the rest of Italy. There is also a discussion of the position of the tailors of Venice and their methods of work as well as an invaluable appendix detailing the textiles then in use at the time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stella Mary Newton has been a consultant to the National Gallery on the dating of paintings from the evidence of dress, and head of a unique department at the Courtauld Institute, where she established a degree course in the history of dress.  She has also been awarded the OBE 'for services to the study of the History of Dress'.

This book is essential to students and teachers of the history of art, the history of dress and the theatre as well as to those interested in Venetian social life during the period covered, and in Italian renaissance studies.