Here’s a second installment in the series entitled ‘History of Lace.’ You can find the first article here. 

Without much talk, following are some works of art of those who have been image setters throughout the centuries.

Catherine de Medici, the woman who first introduced lace-making in France. Notice the exaggerated upright Venicien lace collar in her portrait:

Although Catherine of Braganza was not much popular in England, for she was a protestant, and she failed to bring an heir to the throne, however, she was the one who introduced the custom of drinking tea in England, in addition to using the fork at the royal dining tables. It’s difficult not to admire her portrayed simple elegance!

It was widely believed that Queen Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen, loved to wear Lace collars in a form that mimics halos of 14th century Madonnas, to signal purity:

By the 17th century, lace was so common in Europe that it was used to decorate everything at the nobility mansions, from doorknobs and pillow cases to dresses:

Charles I. was executed on the 30th of January, 1649, for refusing to accept parliament’s rights to cut off expenditure, and control taxes.

How ridiculously extravagant showing off ones wealth could be? Prince Charles Louis & his brother, Prince Rupert, used to wear lace collars over their metallic body armors!

Finally, I couldn’t help but notice that even though I have nothing against digital painting and illustration (in fact, I’m taking beginner courses myself!), it’s so sad that such elaborate, fine and detail-oriented art of portrait painting is going extinct…

 

Coming up next, ‘History of Lace: Documenting Modern Times.‘