La Gloria et l'Honore di Ponti Tagliati, E Ponti in Aere, page 5 (recto) 1556

This is a woodcut on paper, made by Matteo Pagano in Venice during the second half of the 16th century. The image is from a book of lace patterns, intended to be used by seamstresses and embroiderers. The design is highly ornamental, filled with stylized flowers, vines, and geometric shapes, arranged within a grid-like structure. Notice the inclusion of human figures, perhaps cherubs. Books like this were part of a burgeoning print culture in Venice, which helped disseminate artistic ideas and designs more widely than ever before. Venice was a major center of trade and textile production, and the demand for luxury goods fueled the market for pattern books. We might ask ourselves, what was the role of these books in shaping notions of taste and fashion? And how did they contribute to the commercialization of art and design? To answer these questions, we can consult archival sources, such as inventories of workshops and libraries, as well as treatises on art and design from the period.