Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/245

 POPULAR LIFE AS REFLECTED BY ART 233 the tambourine, the bagpipe, or the violin. The wealthier classes had their private dancing-saloons, and sometimes used the city halls for this, their favourite amusement. A copper engraving by Israel von Meckenen gives us a good idea of those dancing- festivals which were so popular on the Eliine at the close of the fifteenth century. In the centre the musicians are placed on a gallery supported by pillars. The dancing couples seem to be moving with great difficulty, on account of the tight-fitting jackets and pointed shoes of the men, and the cumbersome trains of the ladies ; these trains completely cover the floor. Endless variety is displayed in the costumes. The head-dresses are shaped like sugar-loaves, high on the head, and with long veils falling to the ground, or flat coifs, ornamented with flowers or ribbons. The men wear loose jackets over their tight-fitting vests, fastened with buckles, and long cloaks reaching to the floor, or else short mantles. The women all wear low-necked dresses ; the men's faces are shaved, but their hair hangs in curls round the head. For headgear they wear a gaily embroidered band, a hat with feathers, or a turban-like cap. From the stained glass, the miniature paintings, and even the altar pictures of the period, we can form an exact idea of the prevailing taste for rich materials and bright colours, for art in the Middle Ages copied exactly from Nature. We see the dresses for state occasions made of thick brocade of the richest colours, and embroidered with gold and silver ; the long sleeves slit open and trimmed with embroidery. Dresses en- riched with precious stones and pearls often had six and seven rows of coral chains around the neck. Many