Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 19 (recto) 1600

Editor: This intaglio print, "Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 19 (recto)", made around 1600 by Isabella Catanea Parasole, is striking. The graphic nature of the repeating triangular designs feels almost modern. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This print comes from a book of lace-making patterns, specifically for "punto reticella," a needle lace technique popular in the Renaissance. Consider the function of this book, not as a piece of fine art in the modern sense, but as a practical guide. Editor: So, it's less about artistic expression and more about… instruction? Curator: Precisely. The book serves as a tool for women – the "virtuose donne" mentioned in the title – to learn and create these intricate lace designs. The printing of pattern books like this one provided access to visual knowledge, and facilitated the wider consumption of luxury goods like lace amongst a growing middle class. Editor: That makes sense. It highlights how art and craft were intertwined, and how printed images impacted fashion and culture. The geometric forms do feel quite revolutionary though, right? Curator: They do. Look closely at the individual motifs within each triangle. Can you identify any recurring symbols? Editor: I see what look like stylized flowers, globes, and abstract shapes. It's a mix of natural and man-made forms. Curator: Yes, and consider how these patterns might reflect the broader intellectual currents of the Renaissance: the fascination with classical forms, the interest in botany and natural history, and the expanding world of trade and exploration. The book's creation and circulation were as influential to art as the final product created through lacemaking itself. Editor: I hadn't considered that the patterns themselves could encode aspects of Renaissance society. Thanks, that gives me a much wider scope to work with. Curator: It highlights that sometimes, “art” is as much about societal factors and circulation as beauty!