La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami, page 10 (verso) 1567

This is page 10 from ‘La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami’, a book of embroidery patterns made around 1600 by Giovanni Ostaus. Produced in Venice, Italy, this book reflects the growing commercialization of art in the late Renaissance. Printed pattern books allowed for the wider circulation of designs for luxury goods. Embroidery, often a pastime of wealthy women, became more accessible to a growing middle class. The grid system evident here also suggests the influence of the printmaker, whose medium relies on a similar system of organization. Images of mermaids and classically posed men demonstrate the cultural aspiration of the time, harking back to classical antiquity. Understanding the image requires understanding the history of printmaking and the fashion industry, topics that can be explored through the study of archival documents and surviving examples of Renaissance textiles. The value of art lies in its historical context.