La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 71 (recto)
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
Overall: 9 1/4 x 7 1/16 in. (23.5 x 18 cm)
Classification
Books|Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.50.1(74)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This woodcut from the 1605 book *La Pratique de l'Aiguille* (The Practice of the Needle) captures the elegance of early seventeenth-century French ornamental design. Created as page 71 (recto) of a practical guide to embroidery and needlework, it features intricate patterns intended for use by artisans and gentlewomen alike. The medium of woodcut allowed these detailed motifs to be widely reproduced and shared, making complex designs accessible beyond court circles. Published during the reign of Marie de’ Medici, queen of France, the volume reflects the period’s growing interest in refined do...
About the Artist
Matthias Mignerak|Pierre Firens|Marie de Medici|Jean Le Clerc (Italian| | |French) · 1575 | | |1641 –1642 | | |1641
Florence 1575–1642 Colgne| | |French, born Paris 1641