“La Belle Strasbourgeoise”

The Press was used to begin with for the diffusion of knowledge or in voicing criticism of the church and society. In Strasbourg in 1529, the Magistrat forbade celebration of the mass and the town became Protestant. Regulations published by the authorities dealt with all aspects of the citizens’ lives: religion, education, marriage, burial, frequentation of inns, begging, dress, etc. The name of this unique costume comes from its resemblance to Nicolas de Largillière’s celebrated portrait of the same name. It gives an idea of the kind of dress worn by women of patrician society in Strasbourg. The colour black was adopted for reasons of sobriety, but the luxurious quality of the different fabrics is a mark of the highest social rank.