After Blanchard, Spanish Smuggler from the Serranía de Ronda, Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1845

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Spanish Smuggler from the Serranía de Ronda – Hand-Colored Lithograph, Musée de Costumes No. 355, c.1845 : A striking 19th-century … Read more Spanish Smuggler from the Serranía de Ronda – Hand-Colored Lithograph, Musée de Costumes No. 355, c.1845 : A striking 19th-century hand-colored lithograph titled 'Contrebandier de la Serranía de Ronda (Royaume de Grenade)', plate no. 31 from the Espagne & Portugal series, published in Paris around 1845 as part of the celebrated Musée de Costumes collection. Drawn by Blanchard and engraved by Geoffroy, this plate was printed by Moine for Ancienne Maison Aubert, Rue Bergère, Paris. The image depicts a smuggler (contrebandier) from the rugged mountain region of Ronda in southern Spain, then part of the Kingdom of Granada. The figure is rendered in full traditional costume: tight blue trousers with decorative side buttons, high leather gaiters, a richly embroidered short jacket, and a colorful fringed sash and shawl draped over his shoulder. A wide-brimmed hat adorned with tassels and a musket slung casually over his shoulder complete his bold stance — the quintessential image of a romantic Andalusian outlaw. This print captures the fascination of mid-19th-century Europe with regional Spanish life, particularly the legendary smugglers of Andalusia, who were admired for their independence and defiance. Artists like Blanchard and publishers such as Aubert & Cie were instrumental in documenting these traditional costumes for an audience captivated by travel, folklore, and exoticism within Europe itself. The *Musée de Costumes* series offered detailed, hand-finished depictions of national and regional dress across Europe, forming an invaluable visual record of 19th-century attire. Each print combined artistic refinement with ethnographic precision, intended both for collectors and students of costume design. Condition report: Excellent impression with strong original hand-coloring. Minor age toning and small foxing marks at the upper margin, far from the image. Wide margins, printed on fine wove paper. Framing tips: Best presented in a soft cream or warm ivory mat with a narrow dark wood or gilt frame. The vivid colors of the smuggler’s attire contrast beautifully with natural wood tones and complement other prints from the same *Espagne & Portugal* series when displayed as a set. Technique: Hand-colored lithograph Maker: Blanchard del.; Geoffroy sc.; printed by Moine for Ancienne Maison Aubert, Paris, c.1845 See less