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Abstract:  FASHION AND REASON: THE PORTRAIT OF MARQUEENS MARGHETIRA GENTILI SPARAPANI BOCCAPADULI OF LAURENT PECHEUX The marquees Lady Marghetira Gentili Sparapani Boccapaduli, a friend of Alessandro Verri, member, of the Arcadian Academy as Semira Epirense, ordered her portrait made in 1777 by Laurent Pécheux amidst her collections of natural history and antiquities. While her collections are well-known to researchers her dress is still to be brought to the attention of a study as it was a typical English robe which at the time was unusual to be found in Roman society. Without the encumbrance of the crinoline, following Alessandro Verri’s enthusiasm for the English style in dressing and given its practical characteristics, that was a distinctive mark of strong and autonomous individuality. Hence, the Marquees, though opting for choices that moved in the direction of simplicity showed to be a step ahead in regards to novelties. That goes to indicate how timely and informed were the purveyors as well as confirming the reaffirmed personality of the aristocratic society that did not follow fashions but introduced fabrics, colors, and cuts that were better suited for the learned traveler that, later on, Margherita, Grand Tourist across Italy in 1795, proved to be.