Ruby Rose Hairstyle

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Bernice Ebesugawa

unread,

Aug 3, 2024, 3:56:31 PM8/3/24

to unjingoeper

In this three-quarter portrait Queen Isabel de Valois (1546-1568) wears a black velvet gown with round sleeves from which her slashed red silk undersleeves embroidered with gold and silver thread peep out. On her head is a tilted flat cap which, like the buttons adorning the gown, is decorated with diamonds and rubies. The French queen would have dressed in this manner for solemn events, embellishing her outfit with jewellery such as the necklace, belt, and double string of pearls depicted here. Her complex hairstyle is interwoven with pearls and from one side hangs a pendant consisting of a diamond, a ruby, and a pearl. This piece of jewellery would be inherited by her daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia, who also had her portrait painted wearing it. As was very common practice in the sixteenth century, the underside of the diamonds is dyed black. Protruding from the collar of her dress is a ruff sewn with small, flat gold beads, which she sports in other portraits. The gown is adorned with red ribbons with gold aiglets set with small Indian rubies and pearls, which are described in her inventory.