Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo..., page 22 (recto) 1563

Matteo Pagano created this woodcut, now known as Trionfo Di Virtu, around 1550 in Venice, Italy. It is part of a book of lace patterns. During the 16th century, Venice thrived as a centre for textile production and trade. Books like this played a crucial role in disseminating designs and techniques, fueling the city's economic engine and solidifying its position as a tastemaker in Europe. This image provided templates that served an expanding market for luxury goods. Note the highly stylized foliate design, enclosed within a border. It's a format that would allow lacemakers to easily copy the pattern, making it more accessible and affordable. As art historians, we consult archival documents, trade records, and surviving examples of lace to reconstruct the complex web of social, economic, and artistic exchange that produced images such as this. Art, as we see it, is never created in a vacuum but is contingent on its historical moment.