Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 2 (recto) 1588

This is page 2 from Federico de Vinciolo's "Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts…," published in the late 16th century. Vinciolo, an Italian pattern designer working in France, created this book to showcase his designs for lace and needlework. This page is a letter to the reader, in which Vinciolo speaks directly to the women who would be using his patterns, referencing their desires and preferences. He notes the importance of making his patterns accessible and beautiful, hoping to meet the aesthetic desires of his female audience. The patterns themselves were intricate and geometric, reflecting the fashion trends of the time. Lace was a luxury item, so these books allowed women, particularly those of the French court, to create fashionable adornments, simultaneously engaging in artistic expression and asserting their social status. In this way, Vinciolo's work highlights the intersection of gender, class, and artistry in the creation and consumption of fashionable goods during the Renaissance.