How Caravaggio Painted Class and Clothes

"Of the three, the naive youth on the left is shown in the finest, most luxurious materials. He is the only one to wear a doublet with set-in sleeves, generously cut from a deep mulberry satin and decorated with black velvet guards, restrained hues typical of the attire of elite men. He is further distinguished by his linen shirt with starched, ruffled cuffs and skilful embroidery, all emblems of refinement."

"He is often identified as a bravo, based on possible similarities between his dress and Vecellio's Venetian bravo. However, his striped, predominantly yellow doublet and breeches could imply he is a liveried servant, possibly even a footman. The fine hairs above his upper lip suggest that he is around eighteen years old and slightly more mature than his finely dressed opponent. Footmen were often relatively young and wore liveries because their role included escorting their employers as they moved around the city."

The Cardsharps presents closely observed fabrics and dress styles as narrative devices. Differences among garments provide clues to relationships and identities. The naive youth on the left wears a deep mulberry satin doublet with set-in sleeves, black velvet guards, and an embroidered linen shirt with starched ruffled cuffs, signaling elite refinement. Other figures wear more colorful or livery-like attire, complicating simple status readings. Fashion functions as a dynamic cycle that circulated garments through retail, recycling, and exchange, increasing visibility of marginalized individuals. A colourful, striped figure may be a bravo or a liveried footman; footmen were often young, armed, and served as escorts and bodyguards.

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