Corona delle Nobile et Virtuose Donne, Libro Terzo, page 5 (recto) 1620

This is page 5 from the third book of “Corona delle Nobile et Virtuose Donne,” made by Cesare Vecellio, around the late 16th century. Vecellio's intricate woodcut is more than a decorative pattern book; it’s a window into the Renaissance construction of gender and class. These designs offer templates for lacemakers and embroiderers, trades often practiced by women. Note the dual message: the "Corona" or "Crown" in the title suggests a celebration of women, yet it also confines them to roles defined by domesticity and virtue. The figures and fantastical creatures here, however, push against the rigid social norms of the time. Reflect on how fashion and craft, seemingly confined to the domestic sphere, can become powerful sites of negotiation for identity and expression. How might these designs, circulated amongst women, offer alternative narratives of self-expression? The personal becomes political, as women used their craft to navigate their identities.