This print depicts a Venetian woman dressing her hair using two mirrors, so she can see the back too.

The particular Venetian hairstyle with the hair set as a crescent moon, or as two horns, was popular in the later 1500s and early 1600s.

Source: Habiti delle Donne Venetiane, published by Giacomo Franco, c. 1610, in Venice.

A woman dressing her hair with two mirrors

It has not been many years that the Women of this City have been accustomed to wearing their hair in high curls, having previously worn them much lower; but because they notice that such high styles add to their charm, many of them study nothing else but dressing their hair in new and beautiful styles; and many others even keep maids specifically for such styling. And because there are still some who dress their own hair using two mirrors to see in one the reflection from the other. Therefore, the present figure has been added.

Original texts

Una che si concia con due specchi

Non sono molti anni che le Donne di questa Città costumano farsi gli ricci alti, solendo per il tempo adietro portarli assai più bassi; ma perche si accorgono che cosi alti gli aggiungono vaghezza, pero molte di loro ad altro non studiano, che ad acconciarsigli con nuovi e belli concieri; & molte ancora di esse tengono donne a posta per tal conciero. Et perche ve ne sono ancora alcune, che da loro medesime se li acconciano con doi specchi per veder in uno in reflesso, che gli apporta l’altro. Però si è messa la presente figura.

Text from the 1878 edition

A lady dressing her hair with two mirrors

It is only for a few years that the Venetian women have worn their hair so high, formerly it was much lower. They pretend that this manner of wearing the hair dressed so high, entrances their charms so that many of them take the greatest pains to invent new and beautiful fashions in their coiffure. For their hairdressing some employ maids most expert in combing and curling, while others arrange their own locks by the aid of two mirrors, in one of which is reflected what the other represents. This is why the accompanying picture is given.

Related articles

• Habiti d’huomeni et donne venetiane — Giacomo Franco
• Habiti delle Donne Venetiane (c.1610) — Giacomo Franco

Related images

• Meretrici de’ luoghi publici — Prostitutes of public places — Habiti Antichi e Moderni — 146.a
• Gentildonne — Noblewomen — Grevembroch 1-136
• A Venetian courtesan having her hair done by a maid.