Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, page 37 (recto) 1610

This is a page from Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, a book of lace-making patterns created by Isabella Catanea Parasole, sometime around the turn of the 17th century in Italy. Looking closely, we see a series of intricate designs, each a template for creating delicate lace. But this isn't just a collection of pretty patterns; it's a window into the social fabric of the time. Lace making was an important skill for women, especially those of noble and honest standing, as the title states. A book like this provided not just instructions, but also a means of economic and social mobility. Lace was a luxury item, and the ability to create it could provide income and status. Consider, too, that Parasole was herself a woman artist and entrepreneur. We can research, through archival records, the guilds and workshops of the time to understand the conditions in which she worked, and the institutional structures that either supported or constrained her ambition. This book, therefore, is not just about lace, but about women's work, social aspiration, and the creative industries of the Renaissance.