Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 3 (recto) 1597

*Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 3 (recto)* (1597) is a page from a manuscript book by Isabella Catanea Parasole, an Italian artist and writer, and is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. The page is a dedication to Donna Giovanna d’Aragona e Cardona, and includes a decorative initial letter “D” with a portrait of a woman. The work is a fine example of a humanist manuscript and serves as a testament to the many talents of Parasole. The dedication is typical of the period, demonstrating Parasole’s skill as a writer as well as her artistry.