PeopleInMedievalArt

Everyday People in Medieval Art

Below are images taken from medieval paintings and illuminated manuscripts showing everyday
people doing everyday things. These are the kind of people one would expect to see at a marketplace
in the Middle Ages. These are the people who make goods, produce goods or generally wear what the
general population was wearing at the time. They are not wearing the fashionable clothes and the latest
trends of the Royal Court of of the nobility. Neither should you be. They have been sorted into 3 categories-

TRADERS & CRAFTSMEN - FOOD VENDORS - ENTERTAINERS & MUSICIANS

Any of these types of clothing are suitable for stallholders, traders and merchants.

IMAGES OF TRADERS, MERCHANTS, CRAFTSMEN
& GENERAL WORKING CLASS PEOPLE

Generally, the clothing is basic. Men wear tunics with fitted sleeves and a split up the front, side or back to allow ease of movement. Usually a hood or a hood with a cowl was worn to keep the head warm or protect it from the sun. Straw hats were worn by those who worked out of doors. Men and women often wore an apron of white linen as outer clothing wasn't washed all that often. It was not uncommon for the women to have an outer dress with pin on sleeves so the sleeves could be removed showing the white or plain coloured linen undergarment. Bare arms were not seen.

IMAGES OF FOOD & DRINK VENDORS, WINE MERCHANTS etc

People involved witht he production of food or beverages or the cooking and serving of food wore basic tunics, had their hair covered with a hat or coif or veil if a woman and as today, wore aprons of varying styles to protect their clothing. Their clothing was practical with sleeves that were fitted enough not to drag into food or just wide enough to roll up as we would do today. Hose was worn, but a reasonable modern alternative to hose is fitted drawstring trousers. The second picture shows a man wearing a surcote, which is a sleeveless overgarment over the top of his tunic as well as an apron. More apron styles can be seen in the section above. Shoes styles today are dictated by Workplace Health & Safety and should be enclosed leather and protective.

IMAGES OF ENTERTAINERS & MUSICIANS

Entertainers and musicians were travellers. Their clothing was practical and simple. Bright colours and patterns were worn- stripes, chevrons (v shapes) and particolour tunics the most often seen. Particolour tunics are made following the same basic tunic pattern only using 2 different colours of fabric; one colour on one side, one colour on the other side with the opposing sleeves in the opposite colours. Often the sleeves and edges of the hoods were daggued, meaning that instead of straight edges, the bottom hems were scalloped or cut into shapes. A basic rule of thumb for entertainers is that they wore pretty much what other working class people wore.