Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne, page 6 (recto) 1546

This is page 6 from 'Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne', or 'Mirror of the Thoughts of Beautiful and Virtuous Women', a woodcut pattern book created by Matteo Pagano in Venice, sometime in the mid-16th century. These books were pattern sources for the rising numbers of women learning needlework. The geometric patterns are basic and repetitive. The style suggests that lace making, embroidery, and other textile arts were becoming widespread and accessible. The title reveals a social and cultural context in which the virtue and beauty of women are specifically connected to their craft skills. Looking at these patterns, we can see how artistic creativity could flourish even within the confines of a highly regulated domestic life. To understand the context of this artwork, scholars can consult domestic records, fashion history, and studies of gender and class. The survival of pattern books like this one helps us see that creativity and artistry were not limited to those working on a grand scale.