Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 2 (recto) 1597

This is page two of Studio delle virtuose Dame, made by Isabella Catanea Parasole in 1597. Here, Parasole dedicates her book of lace patterns to Doña Juana de Aragón y Cardona, an act that speaks to the social conditions in which female artists operated at the time. Italy saw a rise in female artists during the Renaissance, a period of burgeoning cultural and intellectual growth. However, women faced significant barriers to artistic training and recognition. Often excluded from formal apprenticeships, they relied on family connections or patronage for support. Parasole dedicates her work to a noblewoman, in part an acknowledgment of the patronage system and in part, a canny strategy for increasing her visibility within the exclusive courts of Italy. Art historians consult archival documents, letters, and patronage records to uncover the social networks and institutional frameworks that shaped artistic production in the Renaissance. By examining these sources, we gain a richer understanding of the role of art in society and the challenges faced by female artists.