Waistcoat

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The development of colorfast copperplate textile printing led to a boom in printed textiles whose motifs reflected contemporary events and developments in politics, literature, opera, and the like. This unusual waistcoat bears images that refer to the life of Leopold II, Archduke of Austria, including his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor. The ribbon on the right reads Unser Leopold lebe (Long Live Leopold). He served as emperor for only two years before his death in 1792, so it is possible to date this waistcoat with more precision than usual.

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