Clara – 1615-1690

Clara, wife of Friedrich Hermann Schomberg, Marshall of France and Duke of Schomberg, 1615-1690

The woman wears a blue, off-the-shoulder dress with a closely fitted, tapering bodice and full skirts. The straight neck is edged with a wide band of white lace with a pale blue bow at the center, over the bust. The sleeves are tiered and puffed, ending just below the elbow. The first tier is composed of blue ruching, followed by a ruffle of white lace, then a white puff trimmed with large, pale blue bows and a double, white lace ruffle at the hem. The bodice is intricately decorated, as is the hem of the blue over-skirt.

This skirt splits and is caught up at several places to better display the golden, elaborately floral patterned under-skirt. Both skirts come to a slight train behind. The woman wears elbow-length, pale gray gloves and high-heeled golden shoes with large, blue bows at the toes. She wears a short, pearl necklace and holds an open fan made of large, alternating blue and gold plumes in her left hand. “-1830” has been written in pencil below the printed text.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges