French fool, 16th century, in green, white and yellow tunic, codpiece and stockings, with fool's cap, playing a flute. Handcolored illustration by E. Lechevallier-Chevignard, lithographed by A. Didier, L. Flameng, F. Laguillermie, from Georges Duplessis's "Costumes historiques des XVIe, XVIIe et XVIIIe siecles" (Historical costumes of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries), Paris 1867. The book was a continuation of the series on the costumes of the 12th to 15th centuries published by Camille Bonnard and Paul Mercuri from 1830. Georges Duplessis (1834-1899) was curator of the Prints department at the Bibliotheque nationale. Edmond Lechevallier-Chevignard (1825-1902) was an artist, book illustrator, and interior designer for many public buildings and churches. He was named professor at the National School of Decorative Arts in 1874.