Artwork
Jewish girl in full costume
Jewish girl in full costume is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Charlotte Inglefield. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a watercolour portrait of a Jewish girl dressed in traditional attire.
About this work
Overview
The work is a watercolour portrait of a Jewish girl dressed in traditional attire. It forms part of a larger album containing 49 mounted drawings on 42 sheets, with several sheets left blank or bearing only inscriptions. The album chiefly depicts scenes and figures from Turkish and Tunisian contexts, including landscapes of Constantinople, Tunis, and Carthage.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is presented in a long, patterned robe featuring red, white and gold motifs, a blue headscarf, a matching sash, yellow shoes and striped socks. She holds a small object in her right hand while her left hand rests on her hip, emphasizing everyday dress rather than ceremonial costume.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the image employs bright yet uncomplicated hues, clear outlines, and flat areas of colour. The handling is straightforward, focusing on the accurate rendering of ordinary clothing rather than elaborate decorative detail.
History & Provenance
The album’s drawings are attributed to multiple members of the Inglefield family: some to Charlotte Inglefield, others to her husband S.H.S. Inglefield, their son Loftus, and a number signed by A.A.H. Inglefield. The collaborative nature suggests a family project documenting Mediterranean cultures.
Context
The collection reflects 19th‑century European interest in Oriental subjects, particularly the daily life and dress of peoples in the Ottoman Empire and North Africa. By portraying a Jewish girl in authentic attire, the work contributes to a broader visual record of cultural diversity within those regions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charlotte Inglefield painted watercolours of people and places during the 1850s. She captured scenes like *My Eldest son on board the ship going up to Constantinople* and *Jewish girl in full costume*, showing travelers…
![Fes [Fez] Makers at Tunis, by Charlotte Inglefield](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/charlotte-inglefield--fes-fez-makers-at-tunis--9ed73b21455079c2-w320.webp)
