French School, last quarter of the 17th century

The style of international courtly hunting dress worn by both figures here was found across Europe, and is datable to around 1675. For hunting or riding at this time, women would wear a man's coat, waistcoat, wig and feathered hat (a capeline), and the figure on the left here is identifiable as a lady from her safeguard - the long riding-apron or skirt. Each figure is armed with an Italian fowling piece, which appear either to be silver-mounted or to have highly-polished steel mounts, in keeping with the grandeur of their dress. We are grateful to Dr. Marieke de Winkel for her help in the cataloguing of this lot on the basis of a digital image.