Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne, page 13 (verso) 1546

This is a page from "Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne," created by Matteo Pagano in the 16th century. The blackwork design presents an intricate pattern that blends geometric precision with an organic sense of growth. The prominent motif is the repeated star shape, interspersed with squares and labyrinthine lines. The star, a universal symbol found across cultures, often represents guidance, divinity, or destiny. Here, its multiplication suggests a complex network of virtues—mirrored, perhaps, in the "virtuous women" the title invokes. Consider how similar geometric patterns appear in Islamic art, or even in ancient Roman mosaics. This visual language transcends geographical boundaries. The emotional pull of such patterns lies in their capacity to evoke order from chaos, reflecting an inherent human drive to find structure in the world. It is a cultural memory, revived and reinterpreted through Pagano’s unique lens, an attempt to make sense of our place in the cosmos.