The use of the muff in Venice may have been just fashion, but it could also have been a real lifesaving habit in those times.
The muff use seems to have originated in Venice, in the end of the XVI century, as the Cesare Vecellio image of the Moderne Venetiane is the first documentation about its use, and it was elegant already.
A little later the muff use hit the rest of Europe, and it became a trend. We can well imagine how in those cold winters it was making the ladies' lives way better, and not the ladies only, since - as much as it was a lady's cherished accessory - men used it too, why not.
We can see men using it in quite a good number of images, although Tiepolo's drawings could be about making a tease about muff-ed men.
And we have the Moretta mask using it, as much as the Poet, but this last one is a mockery for sure.
Besides the advantages of being a hand warmer, the muff, as all fashion accessories do in France, it soon became a trend.
Used by women and men alike, but the men were a little teased by this, what's more from a British artist ...
Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun (1755-1842): Portrait of Madame Molé-Reymond, actress of the commedia dell’arte - Oil on panel (1786) - Musée du Louvre, Paris
Unknown British Artist: A French man in full dress - Satire - etching with hand coloring - published by Turner Snow Hill (1782)
Weather in Britain has always been a little harsh. British may love it, but may be not.
And the muff definitely provided a little extra comfort.
But it is interesting to see how it was embedded in the social life, from the images here on the side, and how in Britain they had a couple extra developments in the muff idea: the padded one (which was already used in Venice, maybe alittle less ... plump, and the feathers muff.
John Collet (1725-1780), English satirical artist: "The canonical beau, or, Mars in the dumps" - etching & engraving (1768)
William Hogarth (1697-1754): "A Taste in High Life" - Etching (1746)
British muff: silk, metallic thread (ca. 1780)
British muff: feathers, fur (third quarter 18th century)
Tilly Kettle (1734-1786?): "Woman with a muff" - oil on canvas (early 1760s) - Art Gallery of South Australia
Needless to say, all over Europe the muff was used since at least the XVI century, it was sort of a necessary help for everyday comfort during Winter.
Men, momen, Kings, as we can see in the second image.
Jost Amman (1539-1591): "Sponsa patricia Nurenburgensis, que à duobus Senatoribus junioribus in templum deducitur" (Noble spouse from Nuremberg, which is conducted to the church by two junior Senators) - engraving (1577)
One litte detail here: the lady doesn't seem to be so happy of being taken to her wedding, is there something which is not explained in this story?
Robert Bonnart (1652-1729): "Prince George of Denmark as prince" - engraving with etching
Graphic artist of the 17th century, well known for his engravings and etchings: his work includes about 400 drawings and 3000 etchings.
In 1662 Hollar engraved a costume book entitled: Livre curieux contenant la naifve representation des habits des femmes des diverses parties du monde comme elles s'habillent a present (Entertaining book containing the simple depiction of the clothes of women from different parts of the world as they dress now)
Wenceslaus Hollar: "The Winter habit of an English Gentlewoman" - etching (1644)
Wenceslaus Hollar: "Civis aut Mercatoris Antuerpiensis Uxor" (Bride from the Merchant city of Antwerpen) - etching (1650)
Wenceslaus Hollar: "Woman with muff and fur" - Etching (1646) - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, the father of the Tiepolo family of Venetian painters, besides all the frescoes and paintings he did in his lifetime, enjoyed quite a bit to draw caricatures.
Of the supposedly at least 3 books of caricatures he made in the period 1754-1762, only the third one has survived.
So these images come from the Tomo terzo di caricature (Book three of caricatures)(1754-1762).
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: "Caricature of a man in a Mask and a cloack, holding a Muff and a Tricorne" - Pen and brown ink, brown wash, the corners cut (1760?)
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: "Caricature of a man with muff" - pen and black ink and gray wash
When Winter cold comes over, muff time begins.
And being especially dedicated to women who dare to confront the cold North European winter, several artists portrayed and froze that moment in time, here we have a sample.
Robert Dighton (ca. 1752-1814), English portrait painter, printmaker and caricaturist:
"November" - watercolour (1785)
John Collet (1725-1780), English satirical artist: "Winter" - hand-colored mezzotint (1778-1779) - Lewis Walpole Library
Anonymous British printer: "Winter | Inverno" - hand-colored mezzotint with etching (1790-1800) - The British Museum
John June (active 1740–1770), English engraver, best known for his portraits and book illustrations: "Ianuary | Ianvier" - hand colored etching and engraving (1749)
Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677):
Winter - etching (1643)
"The cold, not cruelty makes her weare
In Winter, furrs and Mild beasthaire
For a smoother skinn at night
Embraceth her with more dilight."
George Henry Boughton (1833-1905): "The Lady Of The Snows" - oil on canvas (ca. 1896)
