Institutions

Funding Entity

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Main Research Unit

CHAM — Centro de Humanidades

® Mafalda Baptista

DRESS_Drawing fashion fRom 16th-cEntury sourceS was conceived as a contribution to the understanding of the historical, tactile and material dimensions of 16th-century elite female clothing in Portugal, through the reconstruction of a costume (composed by several pieces) described in the wedding dowry of Infanta Dona Beatriz (1504-1538).

Based on the 1522 dowry quittance, DRESS is an exercise in reflection on the process of describing, drawing, cutting, sewing and making 16th-century garments based on historical sources. To do so, a ‘dress’ is to be recreated, on the basis of 16th-century narratives and visuality, and on the patterns provided by the 1580 Libro de Geometria, Pratica y Traçapublished in Madrid by Juan de Alcega.

Goals

DRESS has two concrete objectives: making a dress according to the forms, materials and techniques of the 16th century and elaborating a technical report on the process, which will be formalised as a tool for widespread use in academia and civil society. This applies to the fields of performing arts and music in museums, clothing collections and schools, illustrating the stages, the conceptual and methodological options, and the choice of materials and working tools throughout the process of reconstructing garments.

Team

Carla Alferes Pinto . Coordinator
Ana Catarina Garcia (CHAM)

Inês Pinto Coelho (CHAM)