Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, page 36 (recto) 1610

This is a page from Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, or 'Flower of All Virtue for the Noble and Honest Matrons,' printed in Venice, Italy, in the late 16th or early 17th century by Isabella Catanea Parasole. The book presents a series of patterns for lace making, a popular pastime and a valuable skill for women of the Italian upper classes. Lace was expensive and used to adorn clothing and household textiles, indicating status and wealth. This image illustrates the styles of the time and makes them accessible, but it also reinforces a gendered social order by prescribing appropriate activities and virtues for women. Parasole's work offers a window into the domestic lives of noble Italian women and the cultural values that shaped their experiences. To fully understand it, we need to consider its place in the history of female education, textile production, and fashion. Scholarly resources in those fields can help us better appreciate the meanings of the artwork.