La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami, page 33 (verso) 1567

This is page 33 from "La Vera Perfettione del Disegno," a series of embroidery patterns printed by Giovanni Ostaus in Venice in the 16th century. Embroidery motifs are more than mere decoration, they are carriers of memory, each stitch imbued with cultural meaning. Here, we see a parade of eagles and floral arabesques intricately laid out in bands. Look closely. What we see echoed here is the perpetual return of symbols. Note the eagle, a symbol that reaches back to ancient Rome, reappearing across centuries, and taking on new, Christianized connotations of spiritual aspiration. The floral patterns, too, remind us of the continuous thread that ties us to the natural world. These motifs and symbols tap into our subconscious—a reminder of our past and a reflection of humanity’s timeless journey. They evolve, adapt, and are continuously being reinterpreted in an ongoing, cyclical progression through history.