Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 24 (recto) 1597

This page from Isabella Catanea Parasole's 1597 publication *L'avoro de punto reticella* presents a detailed, intricate design for needlepoint lace. Created by an Italian artist, the book features a collection of patterns for women to create and share, promoting a type of feminine artistry and a sense of refined domesticity. This specific page displays various decorative motifs, including floral patterns and geometric shapes, suggesting a skilled needlework technique of reticella that was popular in the late sixteenth century. The use of black and white, characteristic of the time, clearly and accurately depicts the intricate design, facilitating its reproduction by skilled needleworkers.