Cartoon for embroidery of a panel of a chasuble, decorated with floral, bud and animal designs 1600 - 1620

This is an anonymous cartoon for the embroidery of a chasuble panel, decorated with floral, bud, and animal designs. Ecclesiastical garments like the chasuble were laden with symbolism, and embroidery was considered an especially appropriate medium to showcase wealth, status, and devotion. Embroidery was often done by women, and these vestments, worn by men in positions of power, are a testament to the complex dynamics of gender and labor. The design includes a variety of animals, plants, and flowers, signifying a vision of nature that is both abundant and harmonious. But it is also a nature tamed, rendered into ornamental patterns. Consider how this vision of nature might have functioned in contrast to the social realities of the time.