Marie Henriette de Bourbon

What people wore

Daily attire of ordinary women

Ordinary women often wore corsets over a shirt, with a skirt and an apron for daily chores, while their clothing was predominantly colored in black, grey, and red.

Daily life

Crowded living in shared urban spaces

In 17th-century Paris, ordinary people often lived in crowded, narrow buildings where a single room served as a kitchen, sleeping area, and living space. Privacy was minimal, as rooms were frequently shared by entire families, lodgers, or apprentices.

Work

Diverse common jobs in rural and urban areas

Around 85% of the population lived in the countryside and worked in agriculture, while urban dwellers relied on diverse trades like baking, sewing, and manual labor. Common urban jobs included artisans, servants, boatmen, porters, and carters who moved essential goods like grain and stone.

Music

Court ballet performances

The courtly ballet was a spectacular performance featuring masked dancers in elaborate costumes, accompanied by a mix of airs and instrumental music.

At the table

Bread as the foundation of daily meals

Bread was the central element of the daily diet, often served as "soup" by soaking hard, stale slices in water, broth, or vegetable mixtures.

Getting around

River travel was economical but slow

Traveling by river was a common and economical method, though it could be slow; a journey from Paris to Rouen by water could take three or four days downstream, but returning upstream took about four days.

What it cost

Daily laborer wages in early 17th century

Between 1601 and 1625, the average daily wage of a common French laborer was approximately 2.28 livres.