Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 21 (recto) 1597

This page from Isabella Catanea Parasole's *Studio delle virtuose Dame*, a book of needlework patterns published in 1597, shows a design for *punto reticella* or “net stitch” embroidery. The pattern features a complex grid of interweaving, stylized curves and squares on a black background, with a subtle grid pattern underlying the design. The designs were intended for high-status women to copy in their needlework, and the publication reflects the growing importance of needlework as an artistic and social pursuit during the Renaissance.