Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 3 (recto) 1603

This is page 3 from "Les Secondes Oeuvres," a 16th-century embroidery pattern book by Federico de Vinciolo. Published in Venice around 1587, this page, dedicated "To Madame, the King’s Only Sister," speaks volumes about the cultural expectations of women and the intricate dance of patronage in the Renaissance. The text is a carefully crafted appeal. Vinciolo dedicates his work to a royal woman, positioning her as a discerning patron of the arts, but also recognizing her place within a patriarchal structure. The gesture is about more than needlework, it’s about navigating the complex social fabric of the time. He acknowledges the power dynamics while offering a vision of female creativity and influence, a subtle negotiation within the constraints of her position. In this dedication, Vinciolo reveals how art, even something as seemingly domestic as embroidery, could be a site of subtle negotiation, personal expression, and social commentary.