Ornamento nobile...Fatta da Lucretia Romana (Libro V of the Corona) 1620

This book cover, titled "Ornamento nobile...Fatta da Lucretia Romana" was created in Venice in 1620. It is a woodcut printed on paper. The relatively humble materials belie the cultural significance of this object. Woodcut is an accessible, replicable medium – ideally suited for disseminating designs for embroidery and lace to a wide audience of women. The cover image presents a classical scene, but framed by intricate repeating patterns of a very different character. These are the true subject of the book. The phrase "Fatta da Lucretia Romana" suggests the designs are after her work. This is a powerful statement about female authorship, but one must also acknowledge the labor involved in the production of the book itself, which would have involved many skilled artisans, from the woodcutter to the printer. By considering both the designs and the means of their reproduction, we gain insight into the world of female creativity and the collaborative nature of print culture in the 17th century.