Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne (Venice 1554), page 15 (verso) 1554

This page from Matteo Pagano’s *Giardineto novo* (1554) is a printed pattern for needlepoint embroidery. It is typical of the Renaissance, which saw a rise in books dedicated to women's crafts. The designs, based on geometric shapes and repetition, were meant to be copied by women at home. This page shows a variety of patterns ideal for decorating clothing or household items, following the increasing demand for geometric patterns in early modern Europe. The pattern's grid system ensured that the embroidery would look consistent. This book, a guide for women, offered them a way to express their creativity and craftsmanship, and the book's title, *Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne* (“New Garden of Cut and Knotted Stitches for the Exercise and Ornament of Women”) emphasizes this purpose.