Essempio di recammi, page 21 (recto) 1530

This is page 21 from ‘Essempio di recammi’ by Giovanni Antonio Tagliente, printed in Venice in the early 16th century. The black ink on the page presents a series of horizontal bands, each filled with intricate patterns intended as embroidery designs. The top band, with its depiction of fruits and birds, contrasts with the more abstract geometric patterns of the bands below. These lower designs, featuring stylized floral motifs enclosed within circles and crosses, create a rhythm through repetition and symmetry. The patterns aren't just decorative; they serve as templates, inviting the artisan to engage with established forms. The book itself embodies a dialogue between art and craft, revealing how aesthetic ideas were disseminated and adapted in the Renaissance. This interplay between form and function, between the abstract and the representational, suggests a broader cultural interest in systematizing and codifying design. The regularity and symmetry of these patterns hint at underlying structures and orders, reflecting the era's fascination with proportion and harmony.