Esemplario di lavori, page 2 (verso) 1529

This page, printed by Nicolò Zoppino in the early 16th century, is an introduction to a book of embroidery patterns, intended to inspire women in the domestic arts. The text praises female virtue and skill. These are attributes that transcend time, echoing ideals found in ancient Roman virtues like *pietas* and *industria*, which honored diligence and devotion. Such qualities were historically depicted in female figures, passed down through emblem books and moralizing prints. Here, these virtues are explicitly linked to women's creative work. Consider how the act of stitching – patiently weaving threads – mirrors the cyclical nature of time itself, with patterns endlessly repeated and reinterpreted. Even now, the motifs presented here resonate, resurfacing in contemporary designs and crafts, a testament to the enduring power of cultural memory.