Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne 1600

This 1600 title page from "Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne," by Isabella Catanea Parasole, is a beautiful example of a printed page designed for the dissemination of needlework patterns. The text details the intricate designs, including "punto in aria" (a type of needlework using looped stitches), "reticella" (a type of lace), and "maglia" (knitting), which were drawn by the artist. This page was printed in Venice and was part of a growing trend of needlework patterns being made available for women of the time, demonstrating the rising popularity of this skill.