Left: Original watercolour of Matthaus Schwarz, 16th Century, Right: Maisie Broadhead and Bella Newell, The Date, 2014.
A Young Man’s Progress is a collaboration between sisters, artist-photographer Maisie Broadhead and fashion designer Bella Newell (Burberry); and Professor Ulinka Rublack, Professor of Early Modern European History. This is an impressive display of five modern photographic recreations – printed to large scale – telling the fictional story of Matthew Smith, a young man from North London, who is obsessed with clothes. The modern photographs are based upon accurate watercolours commissioned between 1520 and 1560 by Matthäus Schwarz, one of the most committed fashion innovators of his time. Schwartz documented his appearance and outfits throughout his life in what is now known as his ‘Book of Clothes’, which included explanations of when and why each outfit was worn.
Please follow this link to the ongoing blog about the project:
http://thefirstbookoffashion.tumblr.com/
A Young Man’s Progress
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Trumpington Street,
Cambridge CB2 1RB
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/article.html?4945