Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne..., page 45 (recto) 1616

This is page 45 from "Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne...", a book of lace patterns made by Isabella Catanea Parasole in Italy. It was likely made in the late 16th or early 17th century, when the professionalization of women artists was rare. The book’s title suggests its intended audience – noble and virtuous women – and the image shows intricate designs for bobbin lace, a skill associated with women, domesticity, and refinement. The book provides us with an opportunity to think about the social conditions that shape artistic production. The title elevates lace-making to the level of theatre, while the reference to virtue emphasizes the role of women in maintaining social order through skillful creation. To understand the image better, we can turn to a wide range of sources, from social histories of women’s work to studies of fashion and the decorative arts. We can then reflect on the meaning of art as something contingent on its social and institutional context.