Le Pompe: Opera Nova, page 14 (recto) 1557

This is a page from 'Le Pompe: Opera Nova', printed in Venice by Giovanni Battista and Marchio Sessa. The book is a collection of patterns for lacemaking, a craft with significant social and economic implications in 16th-century Europe. Lace was more than mere decoration; it was a symbol of status and wealth, worn by the elite to display their affluence. Pattern books like this one played a crucial role in disseminating designs and standardizing techniques, influencing fashion trends and trade. Venice, as a major center for textile production and commerce, was at the heart of this industry. The book itself is a product of its time, reflecting the intersection of art, commerce, and social hierarchy. To truly understand its significance, we might look at account books, fashion magazines, and sumptuary laws, all resources which historians would draw upon to examine the social and institutional context of art.