Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 88 (recto) 1601

This is a page from "Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne", printed in Venice in the late 16th century by Cesare Vecellio. In a time when printed books were increasingly available, Vecellio created a series of woodcut patterns intended for the needlework of noble and virtuous women. The designs offer us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of women during the Renaissance. Skill in needlework was a defining characteristic, and pattern books provided women with the means to express creativity. The geometric layout of the book also reflects the cultural expectations for women. Note how the designs incorporate a mix of Christian and secular themes, like birds and foliage, which could be interpreted as representing virtues such as piety, diligence, and modesty. Vecellio's book embodies both the creative potential and the constraints placed upon women of the period, whose identities were so closely tied to domestic roles.