Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 50 (verso) 1603

This page, number 50 verso, is from Federico de Vinciolo’s "Les Secondes Oeuvres," a Venetian book of intricate needlework patterns. Dominating the designs are stylized birds, emblems of the soul's journey, freedom, and spiritual aspiration in Renaissance thought. Consider how these avian motifs echo across centuries; from ancient Egyptian depictions of the soul as a bird, to their symbolic presence in medieval tapestries, and even their modern interpretations in art. Here, the birds are not merely decorative. Each carefully placed stitch carries the weight of collective memory, touching on our subconscious desires for transcendence. The symmetrical arrangement suggests a yearning for balance. Observe how these birds, bearing the echoes of ancient longings, resurface through Vinciolo's needlework, forever caught in a dance between the earthly and the divine. The image is less a design and more a symbol.