Gemma pretiosa della virtuose donne, page 4 (recto) 1625

"Gemma pretiosa della virtuose donne," a 1625 publication by Isabella Catanea Parasole, is a guide to needlework for women. This page, featuring geometric patterns in black and white, exemplifies Parasole's focus on reticella lacework, a type of needle lace common in Italy at the time. The intricate designs, presented in a grid format, showcase the variety and complexity of this delicate craft. Parasole's book, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the world of 17th-century Italian needlework and the role of women as artisans.