Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 18 (recto) 1600

This 1600 woodcut, *Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne,* by Isabella Catanea Parasole is a page from a pattern book for needlework. The design features two elaborate, symmetrical motifs of stylized floral and geometric patterns, a common theme in 17th-century needlework. The artist's instructions are printed above the motifs in the black and white print, and the entire page is framed by a decorative border. This page is a prime example of the craftsmanship and ingenuity of women artisans in the Italian Renaissance.