Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne, page 2 (recto) 1546

This is a page from "Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne," or "Mirror of the Thoughts of Beautiful and Virtuous Women," made by Matteo Pagano in Venice. Printed books like this were pattern books, a relatively new genre at the time, which provided templates for lacemakers and embroiderers, usually women working in the domestic sphere. The title suggests that this book offers more than just patterns; it provides a mirror to the thoughts of virtuous women. What can we say about the image itself? The rigid geometric order contrasts with the natural, flowing forms of the flowers. In 16th-century Venice, a society known for its mercantile power and rigid social hierarchies, pattern books played a vital role in defining and reinforcing gender roles. Historical records, such as guild regulations and household inventories, help us understand the lives and labor of women during this period. The survival of pattern books like this into the present allows us to reflect on how art is always shaped by its social and institutional context.