Album of designs for embroidery: bodices, gauntlets, caps, bags, page 11 (verso)
Medium
pen and ink; some with wash
Dimensions
18 7/8 x 11 3/8 in.
Classification
Albums|Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.583.1(9)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate page from a 17th-century Dutch album showcases intricate embroidery designs intended for practical use on bodices, gauntlets, caps, and bags. Created with pen and ink, accented by subtle washes, the drawings feature graceful birds and floral motifs that would have guided needleworkers in rendering lively patterns onto textiles. Dating from 1615–35, the work reflects the meticulous planning behind ornamental clothing and accessories during the Dutch Golden Age, when such pattern books circulated among artisans and households. These albums served as essential tools in an era when ...