Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 89 (recto) 1601

Cesare Vecellio made this woodcut design for lace patterns in Venice, sometime in the late 16th century. The 'Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne' or 'Crown of Noble and Virtuous Women' reflects the era's fashion for elaborate lace, a status symbol popularized among the Venetian elite, as well as other European courts. These books provided patterns for women to create such finery themselves, and we can consider the publication as part of a broader movement to educate and empower women through access to creative skills and professional opportunities. The designs themselves employ a visual vocabulary of geometric and floral forms, reflecting both the influence of classical design, as well as the natural world. In our interpretation, the social and institutional context of the artwork becomes clear by consulting historical records, fashion history, and gender studies. This helps us appreciate the art’s status as something contingent on social and institutional context.