Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne (Venice 1554), page 13 (verso) 1554

This is page 13 from Matteo Pagano’s "Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne," printed in Venice in 1554. The book’s title translates to “New little garden of cut and knotted stitches for the exercise and ornament of women." The poem on this page, dedicated to beautiful and virtuous women, positions needlework as a noble pursuit. By referencing Penelope, Arachne, and Lucretia, it places women's artistic labor within a lineage of powerful female figures from mythology and history. In doing so, Pagano elevates what was often seen as domestic craft to the level of high art. The poem suggests that women's virtue and artistic skill are intertwined, and that through needlework, women can achieve a form of immortality. The emotional resonance of this page lies in its assertion of women's creative potential within the confines of 16th-century society. The poem gently pushes the boundaries of traditional representation, suggesting needlework is more than just a pastime; it is a source of empowerment and self-expression.