Splendore delle virtuose giovani, page 4 (verso) 1564

Iseppo Foresto made this woodcut on paper, titled Splendore delle virtuose giovani, in Italy during the 16th century. The title translates to "Splendor of Virtuous Young Women", pointing to the book's use as a pattern book for lacemakers and embroiderers. This image and others in the book served as guides for creating intricate lace designs, an important skill for women of the time. The rigid grid structure contrasts with the curvilinear forms of the interlaced knots and floral motifs. Consider how the pattern both enables and limits creativity. As a historian, I would look at the economic structures that made lacemaking a valuable skill, as well as the social expectations placed on women to be accomplished in needlework. Examining similar pattern books and surviving examples of 16th-century lace would further illuminate the cultural context of this print and the women who used it.