Plague doctor costume

Rare card · No. 29692

The clothing worn by plague doctors was intended to protect them from airborne diseases during outbreaks of bubonic plague in Europe. It is often seen as a symbol of death and disease. Contrary to popular belief, no evidence suggests that the beak mask costume was worn during the Black Death or the Middle Ages. The costume started to appear in the 17th century when physicians studied and treated plague patients.

Read on Wikipedia · Image I. Columbina, ad vivum delineavit. Paulus Fürst Excud〈i〉t., Public domain