Picturesque Review of the Costume of the Portuguese

A Franciscan friar and a lay brother, as seen before the abolition of their Order.

BibliOdyssey blog has a neat post about a charming set of gouache sketches from a 1836 book titled "Picturesque Review of the Costume of the Portuguese." Though the identity of the artist is not known, it’s surmised that the sketches are mementos or gifts for tourists visiting Portugal way back when!

The sketches are sympathetic and most I would describe as quaint portraits. Even the true caricatures are gently humorous without any hint of malevolence. The language in the title and in some of the captions is just a little skewed or unusual, more likely associated with a non-native speaker, to my mind. I may of course be completely wrong. It’s a sweet little series in any event.

Link